Ryan Mason has Tom Fellows successor destined to save West Brom’s season and his job
Mikey Johnston is definitely the answer to Ryan Mason’s creative woes this season.
Mason is under severe pressure at The Hawthorns after West Brom’s 3-2 defeat to Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.
The defeat saw the Baggies somehow slip to 17th in the Championship, having won just one of their last five league games.
For an Albion side that were eyeing Premier League promotion at the start of the season, their fall from grace is a huge concern.
Nevertheless, Johnston could provide Mason with a little bit of reprieve during this difficult period.
Mikey Johnston could be the new Tom Fellows
Tom Fellows departed West Brom for Southampton over the summer and left a multitude of problems in his wake.
The Albion are one of the worst creative sides in the Championship:
- The Baggies have netted 16 goals this season
- West Brom have created 26 big chances in the league, the fourth-fewest
- Albion have recorded 18.3 expected goals, the seventh-fewest
Devoid of creative players, there is an argument to be made that Mason was set up to fail at West Brom.
However, Johnson is currently a shining light in a sea of darkness at The Hawthorns.
The versatile winger is currently averaging an assist every 1.9 per 90 minutes he’s on the pitch, according to Albion Analysis on 24 November.
Meanwhile, Fellows averaged an assist every 2.3 per 90 minutes last term.
At this rate, if Johnston plays the same minutes as Fellows did, he’d surpass the former Baggies stars 14 and provide 17 assists this season.
This is a remarkable and potentially season-altering stat given the dire form West Brom are in at the moment.
Mikey Johnston again in Ryan Mason’s one redeeming factor vs Coventry
Jayson Molumby’s red card changed the trajectory of the Coventry game for West Brom, and it’s no surprise given how many times he has done it.
Before Molumby saw red, Coventry had only taken three more shots than the away side.
After he was sent off, the Baggies came under complete siege and failed to take a single shot on goal during the second half, crumbling to defeat.
Before this, Aune Heggebo and Johnston ran the show, with both involved in West Brom’s two goals scored.
Mason was praised for deploying Johnston on the right wing, which made it easier for Heggebo to be found in goalscoring positions.
The striker doubled his Championship goal tally against Coventry as a result, which was a direct consequence of Johnston’s skill and delivery.
Therefore, another defeat will no doubt be a tough pill for fans to swallow, but Johnston and Heggebo’s newfound understanding may be the key that finally unlocks Albion’s season.
As for Mason, their partnership could secure his place at the helm just a little while longer.
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