Former Tottenham Colleagues Set for Dugout Duel
West Bromwich Albion manager Ryan Mason has spoken out ahead of a fiery West Midlands derby against Birmingham City at The Hawthorns on Wednesday evening. The match carries an intriguing personal subplot, pitting Mason against his friend and former Tottenham Hotspur coaching colleague, Chris Davies.
Mason admitted he hopes to secure a victory over his counterpart, acknowledging the unique nature of the contest. "I consider him a friend, but definitely not tomorrow," Mason told the club's official website, emphasising the competitive spirit that will override their personal relationship for the 90 minutes.
Contrasting Form Sets the Stage for Hawthorns Battle
The two teams arrive at this local clash in markedly different form. Visitors Birmingham City are riding a wave of confidence, sitting in ninth place in the Championship after a strong run of results.
Blues have won five of their last eight matches and have shown formidable attacking prowess, scoring four goals at home in each of their last three consecutive fixtures.
In contrast, West Bromwich Albion are positioned eight places lower in 17th, though the gap is a mere three points, highlighting the Championship's tight nature. The Baggies are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-2 loss at Coventry City, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead. Their recent record shows just two victories from their last eight outings.
Mason Highlights Key Difference Between the Sides
Analysing the challenge, Ryan Mason pointed to a significant factor he believes is working in Davies' favour. The West Brom boss suggested that Davies is benefitting from having been in his post for nearly 18 months, providing stability and time to implement his ideas.
Both managers are in their first permanent senior managerial roles, but Davies appears to have settled more quickly at St Andrew's.
Mason expressed no surprise at his friend's success, stating, "I have massive respect for him as a human first of all, and I think the job he has done there speaks for itself." He described Birmingham as a "good team" that plays with intensity, acknowledging the difficulty of the task ahead.
Outlining his own team's approach, Mason stressed the need for composure in a high-stakes derby. "We need to be disciplined and not act emotionally," he said. "It’s important to use the energy and emotion, but we have to stay calm and trust what we’re doing."
He also addressed external criticism of his team's start, affirming his focus lies solely with those connected to West Brom. "I've got to be honest, it doesn't bother me what other people think," Mason declared, reinforcing his commitment to turning results around and learning on the job.
With home advantage at The Hawthorns, Mason remains optimistic, concluding that his squad is "super determined to give back as much as possible" to the supporters in what promises to be a passionate local encounter.
