Ryan Mason searching for right formula to end West Brom’s travel sickness

West Brom boss Ryan Mason plans changes after a 3-1 defeat at QPR made it six away losses in a row.

The Baggies hoped to challenge for promotion but are 16th in the table and their poor away form is a major problem.

“It’s why we are where we are,” Mason admitted.

“The form away from home is certainly something that we’re chasing to try and help the lads, because at the moment it’s not working.

“The formula isn’t there, I need to change something. We’ve tried different systems and gameplans away from home. At the moment we’re not quite there.”

Mason was left to rue two defensive errors which led to QPR goals in the second half.

Jonathan Varane headed Rangers into a first-half lead and Rumarn Burrell scored just before the hour mark, firing home after Alex Mowatt had been been dispossessed by Richard Kone.

Aune Heggebo pulled a goal back but Burrell netted again, tapping in after Kone had got the better of George Campbell on the left.

Mason said: “Poor. Far too passive in the first half and in the second half we gifted them two goals.

“It’s not something you can do at this or any level. First half, the energy and intensity wasn’t there. We didn’t show ourselves.

“In the second half we did, and there was more energy and we were braver, we were the better team bar two individual errors, which is tough to take.

“It happens in football. People make mistakes. And it’s always the coach’s responsibility, I know that.

“The frustrating thing is we got ourselves back into the game and were playing in their half, were a lot more dominant, and to have the situation that we had with the third goal makes it impossible to get anything from the game.”

QPR boss Julien Stephan was quick to praise Kone, who worked tirelessly and set up both Burrell’s goals.

Big things were expected from striker Kone but he has been somewhat upstaged by fellow summer signing Burrell, who has scored eight goals in his past 10 matches.

Asked about Burrell’s form, Stephan said: “To be honest I was impressed with Richard Kone today. Of course Rumarn scored two – fantastic – but we need to see what all the players did around him.

“I have to say that Richard, today, it was a fantastic performance.”

Tenth-placed Rangers have won three of their past four matches and are just two points away from the play-off spots.

Stephan said: “Two points behind sixth position. It’s a crazy league – you win two games and you are high in the table, lose two games and you are near the bottom.

“The ambition is always to improve, always to build something strong collectively, and I hope that the fans feel proud of what they see on the pitch.

“We are in December and we haven’t done 50 per cent of the season. Let’s see in March exactly what the ambition is.

“But the ambition is always to prepare well for the next game and win the next one.”