Analysis: Early season run feels a distance memory for West Brom now

The memory of an unbeaten six-game start featuring five wins is not yet a distant memory but it is heading that way, should Carlos Corberan’s men not escape their rut in the coming days.

As they headed into stoppage time at the Kassam Stadium the visitors appeared on their way to quickly banishing a tricky three-game winless run that stunted momentum heading into the international break.

Karlan Grant’s fine strike just before the half-hour-mark had the Baggies home but not hosed.

Albion led for an hour – but it was not long enough. Dane Scarlett powered in a 92nd-minute header from a long throw-in to really sour the mood among the 1,800 travelling Baggies.

It was not a thrilling contest, by any means. Oxford, previously unbeaten at their three-sided home, were lively in places but they were there to be got at. Albion’s problem, though, was they did not get at the Yellows anywhere near enough.

Home goalkeeper Jamie Cumming did not have a save to make in a bizarre second half where Alex Palmer was also mostly a bystander. Corberan’s men looked uninterested in adding to their one-goal lead. Football rule 101 is a one-goal lead leaves you open to be punished.

And the Baggies were punished. Ending a winless run and moving top of the table was undone by one big Will Vaulks lob into the box, flick on by Elliott Moore and powerful header into the corner by Scarlett.

The outlook was different thereafter as the visitors licked their wounds from two points carelessly left behind.

Albion’s lack of desire to find a second goal to put the game beyond Oxford was puzzling and frustrating.

It was painful to watch Cumming not have to make a save with Albion 1-0 up. Oxford were not a threat at the other end, but as time went on their belief grew and by the time it arrived a sting in the tail felt inevitable.

It was not for the lack of getting themselves in decent positions. Corberan’s side time and time again troubled the Oxford box, worked what should have led to threatening opportunities. But time and time again the end product disappointed.

There were a few problems in the final third but they all centred around decision-making and a lack of quality.

Albion had 33 touches in Oxford’s penalty area, more than double their hosts managed, but 14 shots – a decent number – led to just three on target.

The U’s defended well enough but it was all too easy for Des Buckingham’s newly-promoted side to get defensive blocks, clearances and interceptions in.

It cannot be a hard luck story every week for Albion. Before the international break Millwall defended well for their clean sheet at The Hawthorns. Perhaps it was an example of two sides having good days as a defensive unit but Albion made it too easy on both occasions.

They have to be more imaginative and less rigid and predictable when it comes to breaking opposition down. Corberan has to inspire more creativity.

All too often did the visitors reach the byline out wide but the chance to cross or cut a low ball back was cut out. Too predictable.

It was not necessarily a lack of urgency to get forward on this occasion. From minutes 60 to 80 in particular Corberan’s men found great positions. But they are lacking creative flair and it is costing points.

Corberan’s substitutes have drawn ire once again. Tom Fellows and Grady Diangana were withdrawn first with 20 minutes left and those changes were fair enough, but neither Jed Wallace nor John Swift could have the desired effect.

Josh Maja and Uros Racic were next off with seven minutes remaining and Albion are coming a cropper whenever Maja is off the pitch.

The striker has become so integral to how the side play. But just as problematic is Albion’s lack of a striker as back-up and competition, to occupy defences when Maja’s race is run.

Daryl Dike’s return will not be for a few weeks yet and Devante Cole has not been backed to even make the 20-man squad, let alone come on from the bench.

Racic gave his best performance as an Albion starter and Corberan highlighted that as a positive. Grant was electric, deserved his goal and looked really threatening.

The head coach bemoaned poor game management afterwards. He said his side did not handle their lead well at all. Corberan was visibly unhappy with his side’s decisions.

The outlook is four games without a win – that has only happened twice before in Corberan’s reign, which reaches two years on Friday.

Albion have never gone five games without victory under the Spaniard, so there is work to do at Blackburn, who have an identical record as the Baggies, on Wednesday.

Albion must find a way to be more dangerous and stretch opposition keepers more or points will keep slipping away.