Ryan Mason sack potentially hours away at West Brom amid Shilen Patel developments
Ryan Mason’s West Brom future may all hinge on what happens during the clash against Leicester City on Monday.
West Brom travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester in a Championship clash that has pressure on both managers.
Mason is under increasing pressure at The Hawthorns, with replacements already being suggested, while Marti Cifuentes isn’t safe with the Foxes either.
The showdown features two sides who set out to challenge for promotion before the season started, but neither have so far been able to show any real signs of consistency.
West Brom lost 1-0 to Swansea City last time out in the league, which piled further misery on the Albion head coach, and Mason’s final chance to keep Shilen Patel‘s faith is on Monday.
Shilen Patel being in attendance for Leicester game is telling
A recent update revealed that West Brom chairman Patel will be at the Leicester match to watch the Baggies play, all while noise surrounds Mason’s future.
The West Brom owner isn’t always present for games, so the fact he will be present at Leicester proves that his next decision may hinge on the events that unfold at the King Power Stadium.
- West Brom have won two in their last five, the same as Leicester
- Mason has lost 50% of his games in charge of West Brom
- The Baggies are closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs
There have been many poor performances under Mason, but the key takeaway from most has been the lack of attacking threat that the Black Country club have shown under the 34-year-old’s management.
Patel may give the West Brom boss an extra boost to go for the win, with Mason surely making changes to his starting lineup.
It may be in Mason’s best interest to shake things up, as a loss would most likely call for a club announcement.
There is, however, a clear trend from Leicester’s games that Albion need to use to their advantage.
- Read more: West Brom fans react to latest Carlos Corberan developments – ‘He’ll be sacked before Mason’
The one area West Brom simply must target vs Leicester
West Brom drew 1-1 with Leicester in the reverse fixture back in September, when Samuel Iling-Junior’s first-half effort was cancelled out by a stoppage-time own goal from Nat Phillips.
The Baggies more than doubled the Foxes’ expected goals tally despite having just 41 per cent of possession, and Mason will most likely look to use fast breaks to heart Cifuentes’ side once more.
Leicester have managed to create just 3.43 combined xG from their last five games, and there may be a heavy emphasis by Mason for his side to stay patient against the Foxes.
The Baggies could set up to soak in pressure like they did the first time the two met earlier in the season, as a win for Mason in front of Patel would be huge for his future at West Brom.
A defeat, though, and surely that is the end.
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