West Brom head coach Ryan Mason admitted his relief after a 2-0 Sky Bet Championship win over in-form Sheffield United at The Hawthorns eased the pressure on him.
Norway striker Aune Heggebo broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with his seventh goal in as many games then teed up Karlan Grant to seal it 11 minutes later.
A second win in six put Albion within three points of the play-off zone before the weekend action, after back-to-back defeats – two of seven in a row on the road – turned up the heat on Mason.
But United will be kicking themselves after missing four first-half opportunities.
Gustavo Hamer, Tyrese Campbell, Patrick Bamford and Djibril Soumare had chances to put the Blades ahead.
“As a coach there’s always relief when you win a game,” said Mason. “You can enjoy it because we were good value in the second half.
“In the first half it was crucial we got through a period when they had a couple of counter-attacks and Joe (Wildsmith) made a good save. You could feel the anxiety in the group.
“I’m super proud of the effort the players put in – in the second half we were really good and could have scored a few more goals.
“Goals change games, the momentum changes and the first one was outstanding. Aune is in a really good moment.
“There’s a lot of negativity from the outside I’m hearing when I speak to you guys (the media) but we’re not in a terrible place.”
Mason praised his players for sticking by him.
“I’ve never doubted this group’s work rate and ability to compete for me and each other,” he added.
Heggebo started and finished the move for his goal, feeding George Campbell on halfway then arriving between two defenders to slot home.
Grant made it 2-0 with a thunderbolt that rocketed into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after Heggebo put him through.
United manager Chris Wilder did not hold back in a withering assessment of his side’s second-half collapse.
“Our attitude and mentality were shocking in the second half,” said Wilder.
“It’s as frustrated and angry as I have been for a long time. The players just thought the game was going to come to them.
“We knew it was a great opportunity because of the run West Brom had been on. We smelt it before the game – there was a bit of vulnerability regarding them.
“We went after it. It’s alright going after it but you have to bury them and we didn’t take our chances.
“As an experienced operator, at half-time I know how difficult it is to win a game – you have to go again and have that physicality and drive to go again.
“But we were miles off it. There was no urgency about our play and we were passive.”
