Ryan Mason believes Albion’s performance against QPR at The Hawthorns on Monday night was a “mature” one.
Headers from George Campbell and Nat Phillips either side of an Ousmane Diakité own goal helped secure a well-deserved three points in front of the Baggies faithful in the Sky Bet Championship.
The boss says his side showed plenty of “growth” as they responded positively to the Boxing Day defeat to Bristol City.
Mason said: “We deserved the win today. I think the lads played a very good game.
“We made good decisions and we allowed ourselves to get into the game, where in the last home game we didn’t have the chance to because of an offside goal. It changed the momentum and changed the feeling, but I thought we were mature today.
“There’s certainly some growth in there. The most important thing was to win, and we’ve done that. We’ve responded from the Boxing Day game.
“We have another game coming up quickly, but we have to enjoy winning. It’s not easy to win games in this league, but we’ve shown at times that we have the ability to win games.
“We need to try and get our heads in the right space to go again in a couple of days.
“I wanted us to be disciplined. The first goal the other day shouldn’t have stood, and they should’ve had a very clear red card.
“The players responded again today, and they have done all season. They always respond from setbacks.
“We created lots of opportunities and we were disciplined, we didn’t gift the opposition anything and didn’t make any unnecessary mistakes. We understood that the opposition might have the ball, and I don’t think they created anything apart from their set-piece goal.
“We have an ability to create chances, and that’s something that’s improving. On another day, we could’ve scored three or four goals out there.
“We were able to see out the game in comfortable fashion. The players are happy; they’re working and giving everything.”
With all three goals in the game having come via set-piece situations, Mason is especially pleased with the recent impact his side have had from dead-ball scenarios.
“We’ve changed a little bit in the last 13/14 games,” the boss said. “We’ve stayed really disciplined with our set-pieces.
“The delivery is improving from set-pieces; that’s something we’re keen to keep working on. We want to keep improving – all three goals were scored from set-plays – they’re important and we need to find ways of chipping in with other goals.
“I think we look more dangerous going forwards. That side of things is growing, but the most important thing for me today was the discipline.
“We stuck to it, and we found a way to win – that’s what you need to do.
“I don’t think we’ve been very fortunate this year. There are times when we’ve gifted the opposition a goal or made mistakes.
“Believe me, there are also some situations where there have been mistakes. Sometimes things aren’t going your way.
“I certainly feel that’s been the case in the game the other day. There are two massive things that go against us, one’s a certain red card, and that seems to be the way at the moment.
“The only way to get out of it is by winning games of football to change the momentum. We’ve had a lot of challenges this year, but some of them we have – I’m someone who looks at the positives and tries to focus on that.
“The lads really responded after a disappointing result against Bristol City, we need to be ready to go again.
“Sam [Iling-Junior] gave everything, he was on his last legs there and Mikey [Johnston] was struggling. Everyone’s doing everything they can to contribute.
“Today, we were able to do that. Pricey [Isaac Price] hasn’t trained with us due to illness, Mowwy [Alex Mowatt] has come on and given everything.
“We need to get ready to go again, everyone has an important part to play.”
