‘Mikey Johnston and Aune Heggebo perfect despite West Brom loss vs Coventry’
Andy Hinchcliffe has praised the connection between Aune Heggebo and Mikey Johnston for West Brom, despite their 3-2 defeat against Coventry on Saturday.
West Brom triumphed in a 2-1 win over Oxford United before the Championship paused for the November international break.
Despite this, Mason needed to make a statement when Albion took on league leaders Coventry.
While West Brom were not the favourites to win against Coventry, their opening 20 minutes gave travelling fans real hope, only for that to disappear in the fog.
Ryan Mason genius for Mikey Johnston right-wing decision
Johnston started on the right wing at Coventry, in what may have been a stroke of genius from Mason.
Heggebo opened the scoring for West Brom against the home side in the ninth minute from a perfectly weighted Johnston cross, allowing him to tap home.
The 26-year-old picked up the ball on the counter and drove down the wing before picking out Heggebo with ease, who was in the box.
Hinchcliffe, speaking live on Sky Sports Main Event, said that this is exactly what Mason would’ve wanted from his decision to start Johnston on the right.
“There he is, down the right-hand side. Then, it’s the quality of his cross, the movement of the striker, and it all comes together,” he said.
“Everything about this, from an attacking point of view, is brilliant. They press, they get the ball back, you get a chance at a great crossing position, and then he gets his head up, and it’s considered, he doesn’t flash it in.
“It’s a cross designed for the striker for Heggebo to put away. It’s exactly what Mason would have wanted from Johnston and Heggebo.”
After a difficult month or so in the Championship, this is exactly the kind of football Mason will be happy to see, but it still counted for nothing.
Ryan Mason finally finds the right striker formula
Heggebo netted his second against Coventry in the 32nd minute, thanks to a perfect pass from Johnson on the right wing yet again.
- Johnston now has five assists in the 2025/25 season
- Heggebo now has four Championship goals
It was suggested before the game that, because the Baggies thrive when out of possession, Mason would be the perfect man to defeat Coventry.
Two quickfire goals from Heggebo in the first half, and that theory may have had more than enough truth to it, only for Jayson Molumby to throw it all away with his red card.
One thing is certain: the connection between Heggebo and Johnston is undeniable, and Mason may have finally found that Championship-winning formula.
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