Ryan Mason explains Josh Maja starting omission after Middlesbrough loss – It will frustrate West Brom fans | OneFootball

Baggies boss Ryan Mason has outlined why he started Josh Maja on the bench at the Riverside Stadium.

West Brom boss Ryan Mason explained striker Josh Maja started on the bench at Middlesbrough on Friday evening because he didn’t suit the demands of the game.

The Baggies slipped to a second consecutive defeat after losing 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium, with David Strelec and Kaly Sene on target for the hosts, while a late Aune Heggebo header for the visitors was too little, too late.

Once again, Albion failed to show a cutting edge in the final third despite dominating possession, while Boro displayed a clinical nature, devastatingly adding their second goal just before Mason was set to introduce Mikey Johnston and Toby Collyer from the bench.

There was criticism before the match when Mason named his team, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach adopting a pragmatic style by starting Ousmane Diakite over Mikey Johnston in the one change from their home defeat to Derby County.

And his decision to bulk up the midfield was a poor one, with the Baggies looking tepid in the first 45 minutes, before showing a reaction in the second half and making a fist of it.

Albion supporters would particularly be frustrated that striker Josh Maja started on the bench yet again, particularly as Mason confirmed that he was fit to start games after a number of cameo appearances in recent weeks.

And after the defeat at the Riverside Stadium, Mason offered insight as to why he took the decision leave Maja out.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM (from 2:32), West Brom boss Ryan Mason explained why he elected to leave Josh Maja out of the starting XI, believing the Nigerian international didn’t suit the demands of the game needed to compete against the table-toppers.

Mason said: "I think each game demands different things, and in terms of how we prepared the game today and the personnel we needed, Josh wasn't part of that today.

"But there will certainly be games where he's part of it.

“We’re still respecting he has had a long time out, and he's still building his fitness.

"It's important he got some more minutes today and, hopefully, he can contribute and help us."

Josh Maja must start against Leicester City

There is bound to be outrage from West Brom supporters about Ryan Mason’s decision to bench Josh Maja, with the former Fulham man such a reliable goalscoring option, something they desperately need when they are failing to create many chances at the moment.

Maja showed in the early stages of last season what he can bring to the team, possessing a silky touch, ability to bring others into play and having a devastating eye for goal, which led to him netting 12 times before his season-ending leg injury back in January.

While you can understand Mason’s desire to integrate him back into the starting fold slowly, Albion should have shown some attacking intent to take the game to Boro, but his defensive set-up led to Aune Heggebo being left isolated once again, while the likes of Isaac Price and Jed Wallace failed to step up and help out the Norwegian international.

Heggebo would be much more well-supported by being accompanied by another frontman, and it’s something Mason should seriously consider with another night under the lights against Leicester City next Friday.

The Baggies will be looking to avoid a third successive defeat that will see them slip down the table after such a positive start, and Maja must be in the equation for a starting spot to help the goals flow at the top end of the pitch and ensure the team has the best possible chance of claiming something against the Foxes.