Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: Questions of Ryan Mason's Albion after another sub-par showing

Seven days later and a third poor away performance in succession has led to a real stunt in progress and momentum.

Moreover, it has Albion supporters wondering about the direction this season and early progress under Mason.

Lessons from a 2-1 defeat at Watford last Wednesday, which featured a desperately poor second half, were not learned in time for the quick turnaround at Ipswich on Saturday lunchtime.

The Tractor Boys' late 1-0 winner via a Josh Griffiths error left the travelling Baggies empty-handed after away supporters had to endure a dour watch as their side hoped for a stalemate.

Any analysis of the last two fixtures must be put within the context of the current state of play in Mason's squad.

It is a smaller-than-average squad. That was clear enough after the transfer window shut. The hope and aim was for versatile players able to cover several positions. There are big question marks there so far.

A handful of players have been sidelined through injury or illness over the last couple of games and it really has highlighted the squad's lack of depth and quality.

That is not necessarily on Mason, who is not in charge of recruitment. His job is to coach and pick the team.

At Watford Albion's bench contained two keepers and two young outfield players with no senior experience. It also contained players on their way back from long-term injury setbacks not yet backed to play more minutes.

It was not much different in Suffolk on Saturday. Right-back Alfie Gilchrist, injured after finally made his full debut at Watford, was oddly listed on the bench despite the fact he could not play.

It is forcing Mason's hand. Two key midfielders are injured and Ousmane Diakite is playing and struggling. George Campbell, who did OK on Saturday, is having to continue at right-back. Neither are comfortable with the ball across the halfway line.

Aune Heggebo, the £4.7million summer signing, is toiling up front and looks shot of confidence having started both games because Josh Maja was ruled not ready to start.

These factors, as well as the sharp turnaround that had Mason publicly complaining, meant the visitors set up to be content with a point at Portman Road.

The idea was to keep things tight and, as Mason put it, stay in the game to perhaps open up an opportunity to nick a winner late on.

That kind of style was backed up by Charlie Taylor starting over Callum Styles at left-back. The hope for more solidity with physicality - but less ability on the ball.

It made for a tough watch from a Baggies' perspective.

Mason felt his side were 'in the game' for the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second period but it led to no real pressure. Ipswich - played off their own patch 3-0 by promoted Charlton last Tuesday - were never threatened. For balance, Kieran McKenna's former Premier League club have an embarrassment of riches and endless list of options to make changes, the opposite of Albion.

To defend deep and play with an eye for a point is well and good if it comes off and, were it not for goalkeeper Griffiths' late error in putting Alex Mowatt under pressure to allow Jack Clarke to fire the winner, it may have been worthy of credit.

But once the hosts struck there did not feel like any way back for toothless Albion, albeit those few remaining minutes afterwards were the brightest period for Mason's side.

A damning statistic is a first effort on target did not arrive until into stoppage time - a very tame header from Isaac Price.

That is clearly not good enough. Albion, just like the second half at Watford, did not look like scoring. At Ipswich it was more by design, but no better.

Sections of the away support let the head coach and players know their feelings at full-time, unimpressed by what they saw. Owner and chairman Shilen Patel tweeted from Watford last week "there will be more to cheer for ahead."

It is not panic stations but with a week to work on the training ground there is much to ponder and improve on.

Albion are very low in the Championship's scoring and expected goals (xG) reckoning - and fans crave a spike in entertainment and belief this squad have a plan to score goals.