The Tigers moved nine points clear of the Baggies in their final pre-Christmas outing
Ryan Mason was left stunned by Nat Phillips’ handball, which proved the decisive moment in West Brom’s 1-0 defeat at Hull City on Saturday.
Phillips inexplicably waved his hand at a Ryan Giles corner deep into added time at the end of the first half, which gave Oli McBurnie the chance to convert the game’s only goal.
McBurnie confidently slotted in the spot-kick, and from there, Albion rarely looked like avoiding an eighth straight away defeat to leave them nine points adrift of the in-form Tigers, who moved fourth in the table after 22 games.
Albion should have been in front early in the game, but Karlan Grant and Isaac Price spurned glorious chances and were made to pay by McBurnie.
Mason’s mood wasn’t improved 15 minutes from time when substitute Alfie Gilchrist was sent off by referee Ruebyn Ricardo for a challenge on Tigers winger Liam Millar, a decision City boss Sergej Jakirovic felt was harsh.
“It is frustrating, and there are so many emotions,” Mason said. “The worst thing we should have come away with was a 0-0 draw. But we haven’t been able to do that, and away from home, it is killing us.
“I don’t think anyone reacted (to Gilchrist’s challenge). The referee was 10 yards away, and it took him about 15 seconds to give the red card. But I thought it was a tough game for the referee. However, I can’t make excuses for us and our lack of discipline.
“The reality is that’s what’s cost us. It was a tight game, and the pitch wasn’t great. We managed it well in the first half, and we should have come in at half-time winning. But we came in losing by gifting the opposition a goal.
“It’s difficult to accept and to understand why. We’ve spoken about mistakes, individual errors and gifts to the opposition. For how well we played in that first half, to come in 1-0 down in the way we did and the way the penalty was awarded was hard to understand. It’s a lack of discipline, and it’s not good enough.
“There’s a lot of pain at the moment. It’s about understanding and taking responsibility. We have to own it and change it. That’s the only way we move forward.”
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