'He is so invested': West Brom boss Mason praises matchwinner Molumby

Championship round-up: Finn Azaz keeps up rich run of form but Southampton undone late on while leaders Coventry continue rampant form

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025 - 20:07

Staff

West Brom head coach Ryan Mason saluted match-winner Jayson Molumby after his side recovered from 2-0 down to beat Swansea 3-2 in their Sky Bet Championship clash at The Hawthorns.

Ireland international midfielder Molumby, back from suspension after a red card against Coventry last week, struck after 85 minutes after Norway striker Aune Heggebo's double had dragged his side level.

Struggling Swansea had rocked Albion with two goals in the first 11 minutes.

Molumby celebrated his winner by sprinting to Mason in the technical area and embracing the head coach.

"He cares so much," said Mason. "You can see that every day in training and he is so invested in this group and this club.

"But I would much rather that and have players making mistakes from a place of honesty and a real desire to help.

"I know Jayson respects me and the feeling is mutual. I love him as a person and he has a massive heart and works so hard.

"I'm pleased for him but especially for the group because everyone put so much work in."

Molumby's international compatriot Finn Azaz kept up his rich vein of form but it wasn't enough as his Southampton side were sickened late on.

Tristan Crama struck the winning goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Millwall moved up to third in the table following a breathless 3-2 victory over Southampton at The Den.

Caleb Taylor's screamer had put the Lions 2-1 in front but that was cancelled out by Azaz's scrambled equaliser in what was a brilliant spectacle.

French defender Crama had the final word to inflict a first defeat under caretaker boss Tonda Eckert on the Saints and move the Lions to within two points of second-placed Middlesbrough.

Coventry maintained their 10-point lead at the top of the Championship with a 3-1 victory over Charlton.

Harvey Knibbs put the visitors ahead before Josh Eccles and Ellis Simms completed a first-half turnaround for the Sky Blues.

Simms added his second with 15 minutes to go to make it five goals in three games for the Sky Blues front man.

The Addicks, who have now conceded 11 in their last three outings, were handed a fourth defeat in a row after losses to Wrexham, Southampton and Stoke.

Kim Hellberg made a winning start as Middlesbrough manager as the promotion chasers struck twice late on to fight back from behind and beat in-form Derby 2-1 at the Riverside. Boro found themselves behind inside 90 seconds when Patrick Agyemang struck for the Rams, but were rewarded for their second-half pressure when Newcastle loanee Matt Targett levelled 15 minutes from time. Morgan Whittaker then struck the winner nine minutes later with his third goal in three games.

Mark Robins accused a member of Hull’s management team of inflaming a mass brawl at the end of Stoke’s 2-1 defeat at home to Hull. The incident followed the visitors sealing a comeback win via Joe Gelhardt’s last-gasp winner.

Robins absolved his own players of blame, though several objects appeared to be thrown by home fans angered by visiting players celebrating in front of them. It was an unsavoury conclusion to a controversial game sparked by Sorba Thomas’s first-half wonder goal and a contentious Semi Ajayi equaliser after 47 minutes.

“I spoke to the referee who said one of their players had incited the crowd by celebrating in front of them,” explained Robins. “The crowd has then got up. Ash [Phillips] got involved somehow. It then starts to calm down before one of their management team gets involved, says something, then it all lights again. It’s nothing to do with my players, but on the back of it we will get fined, which is an absolute joke.”

Gerhard Struber hailed Bristol City’s 1-0 victory at Portsmouth as a “massive win for our confidence” as the Robins put their play-off push back on track. Anis Mehmeti’s 17th-minute header gave Struber’s side a deserved victory and dropped Pompey – who needed until the 78th minute to register their first shot on target – into the relegation zone.

Preston came from behind twice to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in a pulsating game at Hillsborough. Charlie McNeill’s first-half double was cancelled out by Ben Whiteman and Lewis Dobbin, with the Owls striker missing a penalty moments before Mads Frokjaer-Jensen’s 76th-minute winner. Wednesday remain at the foot of the table on minus four points while Preston move up to fifth.

Wrexham scored a dramatic late equaliser to earn a point in a 1-1 draw with Blackburn. The visitors thought they had won it through Andri Gudjohnsen’s early goal, but Max Cleworth struck in the fifth minute of second-half added time to remain unbeaten in the league since 18 October.

PA/Wires