The Ryan Mason impact and what is behind West Brom's superb Championship start

Albion have impressed in all four outings - and in their EFL Cup defeat despite going out on penalties.

They return from the international break on Saturday as they welcome Derby County to The Hawthorns.

Albion will be hoping the break has not stunted momentum - as a victory could see them climb to the top of the Championship.

It has been a big turnaround since the end of season collapse that cost Albion a play-off spot - but what has changed?

Jonny Drury looks at what is different about Mason's Baggies.

They can do both sides

If you look at Albion's last two regimes and the criticisms the two managers faced - they were very different.

Under Carlos Corberan Albion were solid and hard to beat - and would win games narrowly. But when they couldn't find the net or create much and did ship the odd goal - there was a shift in the fanbase.

Towards the end of Corberan's reign, some were getting a bit fed up with the pragmatic approach - they wanted Albion to show more going forward.

Move it on to Tony Mowbray, and attacking manager who wanted to see more from his side. They beat Portsmouth 5-1 and it looked as though we were going to see a free flowing Albion.

But even though they found the net more - the back door was wide open. In the end it was his downfall. Albion went from watertight to majorly leaky.

Now under Mason - they have both sides, something we haven't seen for a while. The personnel speaks for itself and explains why Albion have looked so solid at the back.

And going forward, although goals are not flowing they are coming and the chances are coming. Against Stoke, they had three really good openings despite giving up more possession and having to defend for periods.

They still looked dangerous - while also being strong at the other end. It is an exciting combination.

Counter attacking quality

A lot under the previous regimes it was about having more of the ball, certainly at home.

With Mason, it is not always that way. Yes, there are games where Albion will dominate the ball.

But some of their sharpest play this season has been on the break. Look at all three Wrexham goals for example, they sprung from counters.

Against Stoke, the goal didn't come that way but the other big chances did. Maybe Mason has seen a way Albion can be creative by playing that way, or maybe he sees his side as not having more than one string to their bow.

One thing is for sure, that counter attacking style is arguably better to watch than trying to pass a team off the park.

Bodies forward - but a balance

That was something labelled at Corberan - Albion didn't get enough men forward to create.

Under Mowbray, the balance was maybe wrong. With Mason, it seems to be right.

Albion haven't been exposed but when they have gone forward, they have done it in numbers and that is key when you play one up top.

Especially when that striker likes to drop in to receive the ball deeper and then play.