Ryan Mason blasted for ‘criminal’ decision ahead of West Brom vs Millwall
West Brom will be aiming to pick up where they left off in midweek against Millwall on Saturday.
The Baggies halted their run of three games without a win in Norfolk, as they ground out a resolute 1-0 victory despite some heavy pressure from their hosts.
Josh Maja netted his first competitive West Brom goal in nine months to seal all three points for the visitors, and they defended manfully to inflict a fourth-straight home defeat on Norwich.
Ryan Mason’s men were back to their best in the midweek victory, but that hasn’t stopped the boss from making a striking selection decision for their trip to Bermondsey.
West Brom fans slam ‘criminal’ decision as Jed Wallace starts vs Millwall
Samuel Iling-Junior starred for West Brom in the win at Norwich, and he has provided his team with another dimension in the attacking areas.
The Aston Villa loanee scored on his full debut against Leicester City, before providing the cross that was eventually turned home by Maja on Wednesday night.
His direct running has caused problems for opposition defences of late, but Albion will have to rely on his impact from the bench against Millwall.
Club captain Jed Wallace has been preferred to the youngster on the right flank, as Mason has opted for experience in what is a potentially tricky trip to The Den.
- @BaggieBoing via X: “Wallace starting, I did not want him on the bench let alone starting.”
- @_jakehomer via X: “Mr Jed Wallace, sorry?”
Albion’s skipper spent over six years with the Lions earlier in his career, and his inclusion in the starting XI has drawn plenty of criticism from supporters on X ahead of the game.
One fan even branded Mason’s decision to hand the veteran the start ahead of Iling-Junior as “criminal.”
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Ryan Mason must bring Iling-Junior on in plenty of time
Iling-Junior’s impact at West Brom has been huge of late, and it seems strange to knock a young player who has been in excellent form of late.
Mason may value the extra solidity and awareness that Wallace will provide defensively; however, if he has genuine intentions of taking three points back to the Black Country, then he simply has to get Iling-Junior onto the pitch in plenty of time.
The wideman should be one of the boss’ first changes in the second half, especially if his team are needing a goal.
The 34-year-old is clearly keen to shuffle the pack and keep everybody fresh, but that shouldn’t come to the detriment of the team.
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