Lewis Cox analysis: Carlos Corberan and West Brom have problems to solve

Carlos Corberan and his staff have big problems to resolve should they hope a growing feeling of unease and discontent does not fester.

I have written before that this sequence of regulars draws is peculiar. It has been difficult to weigh up whether Albion, clearly still hard to beat, can take hope from not losing games or be concerned by a lack of wins.

That balance has veered towards the latter now. Saturday's 1-1 draw at lowly Preston was not a good result for the visitors in any way, shape or form.

The squad stayed in Manchester for their scheduled Christmas party over the weekend. I daresay it was not as happy a shindig as had been hoped.

Albion earned deserved credit from most for digging in amid a lack of defensive options at high-flying Sunderland last Tuesday.

At Preston, though, a big travelling faithful let their frustration be known towards the head coach in the closing stages. Firstly when top scorer Josh Maja departed for John Swift with six minutes left and then at the sound of Thomas Bramall's full-time whistle.

It is the first time in this period of just one win in 12 games - and nine draws - and also the first time in Corberan's two-and-a-bit-year tenure supporters have let their negative feelings known to that level.

It does not justify a knee-jerk reaction nor does it need to be played up as a hugely significant moment. Albion fans were right to boo that second half, it was not good enough. Supporters see their 10-goal top scorer and main source of goals trudge off while their side is toiling away with little hope of a goal or rare win and they are going to be riled.

Corberan played the right card in his interviews afterwards. He said he completely understands and respects the view of supporters - before adding in comments about the physical levels of players and making changes he understood were right.

A longstanding problem is that Albion's squad has been found out as sub-par in this run. That is nothing that should come as a great surprise.

Late goals have been non-existent, as has any influence from an attacking perspective from the bench. It is difficult to force late wins with that recipe. That comes with squad players showing nowhere near enough.

It was a summer of change and transition at The Hawthorns. The first under the new ownership after years in the mire with Guochuan Lai, with finances growing more disastrous by the month. It was the start of a re-build that will take several transfer windows.

The start to the season, an unbeaten run of five wins from six, set expectations and excitement levels off the charts - with the fanbase. It didn't with the head coach, who probably deep down knew things would 'level out'. But the start to the campaign definitely set standards too high and has not helped.

All of this does not excuse Albion's current run and does not make a run of one victory in 12 games acceptable.

Saturday started with optimism. Karlan Grant - one of the players of the season and someone Corberan has got a stunning tune out of - opened the scoring with a deft finish to cap a wonderful flowing team move after just 13 minutes.

What followed was some similar frustration. The visitors did not push for the jugular. There were some more encouraging moments and positions that could have been profited from.

But by the half hour mark Preston, who were without a win in eight games, sensed a way back into the clash.

A half-time rollocking from Paul Heckingbottom and offensive change - striker Will Keane for holding midfielder Ben Whiteman - changed the game entirely. 

Preston went more direct, went into the box quicker, pressed differently and Albion could not handle it. More to the point, the visitors appeared to freeze, they did not compete for the first 15 minutes of the second half and were made to pay. Perceived negativity ensued. Preston could have scored more than the Emil Riis equaliser they managed.

Corberan made a half-time change of his own. He moved Albion from a back four to a back five - which he hinted he could have started with. Whether it was a reaction to the hosts' change is unclear. But it did not work, until a personnel change later in the half.

The bigger picture shows an Albion side that appears a little lost under the head coach at the moment. Caught in the middle, in no man's land, of when to attack and when to hold the fort.

Whether messages and instructions are being muddled or unclear is something that could come out in the wash moving forward. For the moment Corberan must find a return to winning ways before the ire grows more audible.

At last Friday's press conference the Spaniard offered up a reminder of where the club were when he was appointed. He also gave a reminder of challenges during the summer. It was a call for perspective.

Frustration will be heard and followed in Florida, where Shilen Patel is based. Bilkul have a huge admiration and respect for Corberan and know more than anybody this is a transitional season, with the plan very much a long-term one.

But they will not want the head coach's tenure to sour, or for supporters to lose interest or motivation while currently being served up the same old.