West Brom v Swansea: Ryan Mason knows the need to give back to fans

They have passed up several opportunities to kickstart Mason's tenure and their season but late setbacks in games have been a theme of the campaign - and continued in midweek as Birmingham struck an equaliser 12 minutes from time.

Albion led in both Saturday's clash at leaders Coventry and for more than an hour against Blues but stings in the tail have been unavoidable and patience of supporters has worn thin.

Mason knows the gloom around The Hawthorns is a result of little to cheer for fans and is determined to change the narrative.

"I think wins generate momentum and it can change so much," Mason said. "My feeling is we haven't won enough games here.

"We might have only lost one in the league, but we haven't won enough. The games that we haven't won, we've been in really good positions to win.

"Portsmouth we were a goal up, Leicester a goal up, conceding the 95th minute, even Wednesday. It's close, it's there.

"I know this place can generate so much momentum and when we get it good, it can be a massive help for us. I know we've not necessarily given enough back to the fans as it stands.

"We're desperate and I think you can see the players are desperate. They're so invested, they're giving so much and hopefully that can change."

Heading into the weekend's fixtures the clash against the south Wales visitors sees 17th host 19th with five points separating the Baggies and Swans.

Swansea acted at the beginning of this week to confirm the appointment of new Portuguese head coach Vitor Matos, the former Liverpool coach, as successor to Alan Sheehan.

Matos' first game at the helm was a 2-1 defeat to Derby at the Liberty Stadium for a fourth defeat in a row and fifth reverse in six in all competitions.

"Potentially, I think that remains to be seen," Albion's head coach said of facing a different Swansea under Matos.

"Obviously they played last night (Tuesday), 24 hours ago, so we'll see. I think the most important thing, always, is us and how we approach the game and how we put our mark on the game. That's going to be the challenge for the group.

"Like I say, we need the fans. I'm so disappointed we couldn't give back to them (against Blues) because they deserve it.

"My feeling is the players deserve more than what they're getting at the moment. We know in football that can change. The most important thing is that we arrive Saturday and show the same amount of commitment than we showed on Wednesday."

Albion will almost certainly be without on-loan Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer for the clash as he limped out of Wednesday's draw 10 minutes into just his third start for the club.

The Baggies were assessing the latest damage to Collyer's hamstring, but Jayson Molumby does return from his one-match suspension from the Coventry dismissal.

Ousmane Diakite put in another eye-catching display when deputising for Collyer against Blues in midweek.

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