West Bromwich Albion

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

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The 2024-25 Championship season might be over but there are many ways to analyse and reflect on the campaign that has gone before us.

Not every club can go up but if there are signs a team is moving in the right direction, it can still be considered good progress - or quite the opposite if things are on the slide.

Here is a look at how each of the 18 sides who were in the Championship for the past two seasons got on points wise compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sunderland, who won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, recorded the most significant improvement after finishing 16th in 2023-24 and picked up 20 more points.

Despite a tumultuous season off the field, Blackburn were the second most improved side in the division, gaining 13 points on the previous campaign as they missed out on the play-offs by just two points.

Leeds racked up 90 points in 2023-24 but somehow still managed a 10-point improvement as they hit the 100 mark on their way to winning the title in their best-ever season in the second tier.

Millwall's seven-point improvement was enough to help them finish five places higher in eighth, but they fell short of the top six by two points.

Meanwhile, Bristol City were only six points better off but managed to climb five places and claim a play-off spot, recording their best Championship finishing position since 2007-08.

Coventry also only improved by five points but were able to jump from ninth to fifth, perhaps showing just how fine the margins can be in the Championship when it comes to securing a play-off berth.

At the bottom...

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You might want to look away now, Hull City fans.

The Tigers went backwards more than any other side compared to the previous season under Liam Rosenior, dropping from seventh place and three points outside the play-offs to only escaping relegation on goal difference on the final day.

Cardiff went from mid-table in 2023-24 to rock bottom and will drop down to League One for the first time in 22 years. It is pretty clear to see why as the Bluebirds picked up 18 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Norwich tumbled to 13th place after finishing in the play-offs a year before - an underperformance which ultimately cost Johannes Hoff Thorup his job as head coach.

Preston were 10 points off the play-off places in 2023-24 but picked up 13 fewer points under Paul Heckingbottom in what was their worst season since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010-11.

The Lilywhites' downturn was largely due to a major dip in form in the latter stages of the campaign, picking up only one win from their final 15 games (D7 L7) to avoid the drop by just one point.

West Bromwich Albion endured a disappointing season - for a club which always harbours ambitions of plying its trade in the top flight - with an 11-point drop off.

Albion's final points tally of 64 was their worst in the Championship since 1999-2000.

Plymouth may have only been five points worse off than they were in 2023-24 but having survived on the final day that season, there were to be no such heroics this time around and their two-year stint in the second tier is over.

And the rest...

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*All data based only on teams who were in the Championship in 2023-24 and 2024-25

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We asked you what you thought of West Bromwich Albion appointing Tottenham's Ryan Mason as their new head coach.

A risk or the right call? Here's what you had to say:

Richard: It's a gamble but hopefully better than recycling a 'name'. Hope it works out!

Howard: A welcome change from "past it" safe appointments of recent years! A brave choice by the club and worth taking a fresh approach! A young coach who wants to make his name and start to build a successful career is so much more exciting for me as a long term fan than some old has been looking for a final pay day!

Martyn: A good move - young with new ideas and plenty of experience at a Premier League club.... what more do people want!

Nathan: It's certainly an interesting appointment the club have made. There's definitely a risk appointing someone so young and inexperienced such as Mason, however it's the chance to bring new and fresh ideas into the club. We will have to wait and see what the summer brings in regards to recruiting, there's definitely a number of players who could/should be sold. Let's wait and see what happens!

Dave: Well, congrats to Ryan, he would have always been my choice from the shortlist. It's all down to what financial backing the owners give him, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear

Rich: He has to be backed by our ers. Not just six or seven games. The owner has backed his man, now we have to back him as well. Appointment wise, we shall see. Exciting times to be a Baggie.

Matthew: Mason will hopefully bring attacking football with some cutting edge. It's good to see a club like Albion pick an English young manager with hunger for an opportunity. Fans will get behind him.

John: Time will tell, but to be assistant at a large club like Spurs means he isn't a mug. He will have good s and would expect a few quality loan players, and with Spurs having an attacking attitude, he will hopefully bring that mentality with him.

Daren: Producing and nurturing academy players is the clubs' only option going forward - Mason has the credentials to maximise this strategy.

Dale: Just the right sort of appointment to compile a rebuild. Likely to be 25/26 before it bears fruit. I hope he is given that long.

Lee: A bold move but high risk can yield high rewards. Good start is critical, but we had that last year and two mangers later, that counted for nothing.

John: Ryan Mason can bring in the big club mentality and systems that we have been missing the past couple of years. The team needs to believe in itself. With a few additions this club can get back to where they should be.

John: It is a brave appointment, both for Albion and Mason. Mason could ruin a promising career if it all goes wrong. Albion could continue to fail if it proves to be a bad decision, but it is Mason that has more at stake. If this appointment fails, Albion can just move on to their next manager. Mason may not get another chance. But, Mason is a decent person, he has been involved in coaching for six or seven years and it is time for him to have a chance and the responsibility of managing a team. You will never know if it is the right decision until some time has ed, but I hope for both parties it works out well.

Terry: 30 managers since the turn of the century, Albion's recruitment and retention has been atrocious, the two bright spots would be [Roy] Hodgson and Carlos [Corberan] proving even a broken clock is right twice a day. Not hopeful that Mason will get Albion into the Premier League, but very happy to be proved wrong.

Ian: We look forward to Mason, more with hope than expectation.

Following the appointment of Ryan Mason as new Baggies boss, we want to hear your thoughts.

What do you make of the 33-year-old being given his first full-time job in management?

Will he be a success?

Click here to let us know.

Steve Hermon
Albion reporter for BBC Radio WM

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Albion have taken their time with the appointment of Ryan Mason but for good reason. It's been 43 days since Tony Mowbray was sacked on Easter Monday after a 3-1 defeat by struggling Derby ended their play-off hopes.

Mowbray was appointed just over three weeks after Carlos Corberan left on Christmas Eve for Valencia and, in hindsight, it could be argued that it was rushed. In part due to games coming thick and fast as the Baggies looked to maintain their place in the top six, but also down to the collapse of the publicised plans to give the job to Swiss head coach Raphael Wicky.

Because of the unfortunate end to Mowbray's short second spell, there was pressure on club owners Bilkul to get this one right.

They've bided their time to look for the right candidate, but also had to play a waiting game because Mason was never going to leave Tottenham while he was helping them win the Europa League.

Now the ticker tape has settled on those celebrations, Mason has decided to leave the comfort of his boyhood club.

Only time will tell if the gamble to give the 33-year-old his first senior head coach role will pay off, but just like the process of appointing him, patience may be required from the ers.

It's a brave appointment.

The Baggies have gone from 61-year-old Mowbray - whose vast experience and success in the Championship was highlighted by Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor as a reason for his return in January – to a man almost half his predecessor's age and who has never managed at this level before.

Mason does have 13 games as a caretaker boss in the Premier League on his CV though and has worked his way up the coaching ranks at boyhood club Spurs.

Since 2018, the former midfielder has also sat under the learning tree of some of the world's best managers, including Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Many Albion fans were calling for a young head coach with fresh ideas, so he fits the bill on that front, but they will need to be patient with him.

Mason is unlikely to hit the ground running like his former colleague Chris Davies, who left north London for Birmingham City last summer and dominated League One with a superior squad to the level they were at.

Mason doesn't have that right now at The Hawthorns, so perhaps there will be less pressure on him, and more on Nestor and his recruitment team to give him the tools to succeed.

It's a work in progress but in hindsight the recruitment in the 2024-25 season had more misses than hits, so the decisions they make in this next window on which players to sign - and just as crucially which players to move on - will be just as important as the managerial decision they've just made.

Tottenham assistant manager Ryan Mason is the leading candidate to become West Brom boss. (Talksport, external)

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Steve Hermon
Albion reporter for BBC Radio WM

It's been a month since Albion sacked Tony Mowbray after a dismal defeat to Derby on Easter Monday put paid to their play-off hopes.

The thinking behind the swift decision just hours after the game was to give the Baggies a head start in the recruitment process. The only problem is that since then, several clubs have also begun searching for new bosses, including Championship rivals Norwich, Hull and Watford; the latter of whom have already filled their vacancy.

A small section of Baggies fans are getting impatient as time ticks by but the Baggies ownership group, Bilkul, know they must get this appointment right.

Sporting director Andrew Nestor favours an analytical and statistical approach to finding the right person and that takes time to pour over and there's plenty of due diligence to be done on the character of candidates too.

It's no surprise to me that the search is approaching the final days of May. Playing the waiting game has allowed the club to watch the managerial merry-go-round unfold and explore their options.

If they'd have rushed the appointment, a more suitable candidate may have become available after the event. It could be argued that the appointment of Mowbray was rushed after the plan to appoint Swiss head coach Raphael Wicky collapsed but that's an old debate.

The Baggies' aim is to mould a model where they can recruit players to fit a certain system, and the head coach does their work on the training ground, so arguments that the club need a manager quickly for recruitment reasons are largely unfounded in this day and age.

However, the next head coach will want to get their feet under the table soon to begin planning for pre-season and figure out how they can craft a team that can compete for promotion again.

The hierarchy have done a good job of keeping genuine rumours to a minimum this time, which has perhaps caused some of the impatience, but we could now be approaching the final days of the search and hopefully fans will have reason to be excited for the next campaign.

West Bromwich Albion want Tottenham's English coach Ryan Mason, 33, to become their new manager. (Sun), external

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West Bromwich Albion interim manager James Morrison was pleased he went with his gut after agonising over whether to start Daryl Dike against Luton Town.

In his first Championship start in 25 months, after an injury-ravaged two years, American striker Dike scored his first league goal since March 2023 in West Brom's 5-3 final day victory.

Morrison did not take any unnecessary risks with Dike, bringing him off after 62 minutes, and he told BBC WM: "It took me a good three days to think about it but I'm glad I went with my gut and I'm happy for Daryl.

"We were 5-1 up [when Dike was substituted] and I just felt, he has done his bit, scored a goal, let's keep him safe and that feeling of scoring and playing well and [go] into next year.

"We'll always keep working with Daryl daily, and working on his game. I still believe there is a lot more to come from Daryl and he knows it as well and we'll work on the training pitch.

"I want him to use his physicality more. Want him to be horrible to play against so let's keep working."

Luton Town make their final bid to escape relegation when they visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Hatters are hovering just one point above the drop zone with an unhealthy goal difference.

However, they are ending the season strong under boss Matt Bloomfield, having won their past three game with the latest two against teams currently in play-off positions; Bristol City and Coventry City.

It means they are unlikely to be intimidated by Albion, who are winless in three to see them out of a play-off contending position.

• West Brom have lost just one of their last nine league games against Luton Town (W5 D3), a 2-0 away defeat in February 2022.

• Luton Town have failed to win any of their last four away league games against West Brom (D1 L3) and overall have won just two of their last 20 (D3 L15).

• West Brom have won two of their last three games on the final day of a league season (L1), as many victories as across their prior 16 such fixtures between 2006 and 2021 combined (D7 L7).

• Luton have failed to win any of their last seven away Football League games that have fallen on the final day of a league campaign (D3 L4), since a 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town in the fourth tier in 2002.

• Luton have scored the fewest goals of any Championship side so far this season (42), though they have netted 11 of those strikes from corners – a t-league tally alongside Coventry City, Derby County, Leeds and QPR.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Vitor Pereira has revealed he almost ed Wolves' bitter rivals West Brom.

The Portuguese has had several opportunities to move to the Premier League over the last 15 years before being appointed at Molineux in December.

He spoke to Chelsea, Everton, Crystal Palace, Watford and Arsenal and itted he held talks with the Baggies over a decade ago.

"Do you know how many meetings I had here? The first one, West Bromwich, in the Premier League, maybe 15 years ago," he told BBC Sport.

"The second? Everton. Third? Crystal Palace with the proposal, with the contract for two and-a-half years.

"OK, we can celebrate with a pint and then they changed the idea for another but I realised that is normal here.

"After that, Chelsea, then Everton again, then Arsenal. I had a very long, very good meeting with Arsenal before they signed (Mikel) Arteta.

"Watford was the only time that I said no. I didn't want to do it. It was the time that they were relegated."

His previous chance to come to England, before Molineux, was with Everton in 2022 when the Toffees were replacing Rafa Benitez, while he also spoke to them in 2019 as a possible replacement for Marco Silva.

"It was three times with Everton. With Everton, with the contract was agreed – everything – to start to work tomorrow. My bags were packed," he said.

"But when tomorrow came, it was a case of 'check in, check out, check in, check out, check in' – for one week.

"It was winter. It's a lot. It means now I'm very happy to be here.

"I'm very grateful to the club because they gave me the opportunity to be in the league that I believe gives me the opportunity to be at my best level.

"It challenges me and I need to be challenged. If I go to a league and tactically, I cannot express myself, that is not for me. But in this league, I can do it."

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QPR boss Marti Cifuentes is not on West Bromwich Albion's shortlist for their head coach vacancy, reports BBC Radio WM, external.

The Spaniard, who was put on gardening leave by Rangers last night, has been linked with The Hawthorns - replacing Tony Mowbray - and also the job at Norwich City.

According to BBC Radio WM, West Brom have not offered the job to anyone and are "continuing with their recruitment process".

Cifuentes was appointed as QPR boss in October 2023, replacing Gareth Ainsworth, and led them to Championship safety, having taken over when they were second from bottom.

After another slow start this season, the Londoners are 15th in the table and will have assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm in charge for their final game of the campaign at Sunderland on Saturday.

"This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned," said QPR chief executive Christian Nourry.

"As a club, we are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible so we can start preparations in earnest for the future."

Tony Mowbray was sacked by West Brom last week after getting only five wins in 18 league games, ending their play-off hopes.

James Morrison remains as interim head coach for their last game of the season at home against Luton on Saturday.

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West Bromwich Albion's failure to reach this season's Championship play-offs is "unacceptable", says midfielder Jed Wallace.

The Baggies were in sixth place when Tony Mowbray replaced Carlos Corberan as head coach in January but a run of just five wins from his 18 games in charge ended their play-off hopes and Mowbray was sacked.

"It's been massively disappointing - take the first five games out of the season and our points-per-game has been average," Wallace told BBC Radio WM.

"At times like this you have to look at yourself - as a group of players you have to look at yourself and say how many of us have had a good season? I know I certainly haven't."

West Brom finish their season at home to Luton Town on Saturday (12:30 BST) with James Morrison still in interim charge but Wallace will reflect on the season as one of regret.

The Baggies can finish no higher than ninth while their maximum possible points haul of 64 would be their fewest in the Championship since 1999-2000.

"It's disappointing looking at the table in disbelief," added Wallace

"The amount of chances we've missed, the amount of late goals and individual errors is the tale of the season - it's not acceptable for a club this size."

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West Brom caretaker manager James Morrison said the goalless draw against Cardiff was the "story of our season" for the Baggies.

The match was Morrison's first at the helm following Tony Mowbray's departure on Easter Monday and the draw means they cannot finish in the top six and will play in the Championship next season.

"I was pleased with the backline who defended well and put their bodies on the line," Morrison said.

"But I'm frustrated with that last bit. Feels that's the story of our season.

"I asked them to take that anger and frustration of the week into the game and I could sense that."

Having both sacked their managers over Easter Weekend, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion will meet on Saturday (15:00 BST) with ambitions of staying alive on either side of the table.

The Bluebirds will be under the charge of Wales captain Aaron Ramsey after sacking Omar Riza following their defeat to Sheffield United on Friday.

The Welshman's first game at the helm culminated in a 1-1 draw with Oxford, keeping them afloat in the relegation fight with three points between them and safety.

While former Albion midfielder James Morrison replaces Tony Mowbray, who lost his position after a 3-1 loss to Derby County on Monday, for the first time as the Baggies look to keep their fleeting hopes of the play-offs alive.

• Cardiff are winless in their last seven league games against West Brom (D4 L3), failing to score in five of these matches.

• West Brom have won two of their last three away league games against Cardiff (D1), as many as in their previous 11 visits (D6 L3).

• Cardiff have won just one of their last 10 league games (D4 L5), and are winless in six since beating Blackburn 2-1 in March.

• West Brom have lost five of their last six league games (W1), as many as they had in their previous 30 (W8 D17).

• West Brom are winless in their last 14 away league games (D7 L7). It's their longest run since a run of 15 between September 2017 and March 2018, while they've never gone 15 without a win on the road outside the top-flight.