Leicester v West Brom: Albion's run is a perilous one and slide cannot continue

The question that could be served up to the head coach and owners Bilkul, particularly if it becomes 10 successive defeats on the road at Leicester on Monday night, is when does the run make the head coach's role untenable?

The slide down the Championship table is alarming.

Fans and onlookers will debate whether or not the Baggies are in a Championship relegation battle. But the fact the bottom three is closer than the top six does not make for good reading.

That is exacerbated by the fact that, after the clash at the King Power Stadium, some rivals below Mason's team have games in hand.

Some, perhaps even Albion owners, will believe the squad it too strong to be involved in real relegation fears. That may be the case, but history tells us you can never be too complacent.

Following the clash in the east Midlands the next league fixture is not until December 16 - a Friday night at home to Middlesbrough - when it will be roughly the halfway point of the January transfer window.

It appears Bilkul are willing to extend patience with Mason through this month, though it has been made clear by the owners to expect little business due to the continuing PSR restraints.

There will be some movement, though. Midfielder Toby Collyer, now back at Manchester United, will be replaced and if the hierarchy can find a way to boost Mason's options they will.

The head coach has made it clear several times, both subtly and clearly, that on occasion - at part thanks to injury - he has been working with too limited numbers.

The latter part of January, with back-to-back home games and a trip to Derby, feel decisive in Mason's reign at The Hawthorns and whether he will ever truly turn it around.

If Albion make no progress this month they will have slid dangerously close to the relegation places and that is a matter the club surely cannot gamble with despite the recent statement acknowledging patience and time.

Things will feel better if Mason's troops can somehow put a stop to the horrific away rot at mid-table Leicester tonight.

The Baggies face hosts in a tough period of their own and just three points further up the Championship standings under Spaniard Marti Cifuentes.

There will be scrutiny in both dugouts this evening with the home former QPR boss taking heavy fire for a badly inconsistent debut season with the Foxes.

There have been calls from the home support to protest against City's ownership with a no-show against Albion. Cifuentes said in response: "I know that, as a team, we’re not in a situation we would like to be. I understand the frustrations of many fans.

“I’ve been in situations like this before. Everybody is free to express their opinion but at the same time, the only way to improve things is to stay together."

The Foxes were beaten 3-1 at Sheffield United last time out.

Albion have right-back Alfie Gilchrist back from a three-match ban and Mason will hope midfielder Jayson Molumby is fit enough to start from the off.