Ryan Mason to look away as supercomputer predicts 52-year first in West Brom vs Swansea
West Brom face Swansea City in Wales on New Year’s Day as they look to avoid making some unwanted history.
Ryan Mason remains under sack pressure despite the Baggies securing a 2-1 win over QPR at The Hawthorns on Monday evening.
George Campbell and Nat Phillips both got on the scoresheet for West Brom, the pair scoring headers either side of Ousmane Diakite’s own goal to pick up a crucial three points.
Mason’s side have still only won two of their last six Championship games and Monday’s performance did little to quieten the 34-year-old’s critics.
West Brom big underdogs away at Swansea
Swansea come into the clash off the back of a 1-0 win over Oxford United on Monday, meaning they have now won four of their last six games.
The Welsh outfit are still below West Brom in the Championship table, but would go above the Baggies with a win on Thursday afternoon.
According to the Opta supercomputer, Swansea are heavy favourites to come away with all three points against Mason’s side, with a 43.7 per cent chance of securing victory.
As for West Brom, they have only been given a 29.5 per cent shot of picking up a rare win on their travels, while the draw is the least likely outcome at 26.8 per cent.
West Brom on run not seen since 1970s
West Brom have been horrific away from home this season, and are currently on a run of eight consecutive away defeats in the Championship.
If the supercomputer’s prediction comes true, and Mason’s side are beaten at the Swansea.com Stadium, then it will be the first time since the 1972-73 campaign that the Baggies have lost nine in a row on their travels.
That streak ran between January and April in 1973 while Don Howe was in charge, and Albion were relegated from the First Division at the end of that season, finishing bottom of the table with 28 points.
Mason will be desperate to avoid leading his side to a new 52-year-low in South Wales, as it would pile the pressure right back on him and leave West Brom peering nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone.
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