Jayson Molumby capped a sensational comeback win for West Brom against Swansea on Saturday with a late winner.
Jayson Molumby celebrates West Brom’s winner against Swansea(Image: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
West Brom boss Ryan Mason has declared his “love” for Jayson Molumby – and he has described the Waterford native as the “driving force” behind Saturday’s sensational comeback against Swansea.
The Baggies were 2-0 down after just 11 minutes and that’s how it remained until half-time, when the players were booed off the pitch by their supporters.
However, they quickly won back the fans by drawing level within seven minutes of the restart, with Aune Heggebo scoring twice in that time.
And just as it looked as though both sides would have to settle for a point, up popped Ireland midfielder Molumby to slot home the winner on 85 minutes.
The game marked a return to the starting-11 for Molumby, who was suspended for the midweek draw against Birmingham City.
Mason was full of praise for the midfielder afterwards, saying: “I think that’s football in a nutshell – Jayson cares, he cares so much. You can see that every day.
“The way he approaches training. He’s so invested in this club and this group. I’d much rather people like that. I’d much rather people be making mistakes from a place of honesty and a real desire to help.
“I’m pleased for him, but I think most importantly, I’m pleased for the group. I know Jayson respects me and he knows that feeling is certainly mutual. I love him as a person. I think he’s got a massive heart and he works so hard.”
Molumby, who picked up a red card during the defeat to Coventry City on November 22, missed four games through injury shortly after the October international break, and his absence was a big blow, according to Mason.
“We’ve missed Jayson, we miss Toby Collyer, the energy that they bring into that midfield,” he said. “Obviously Jayson had an injury after the international in October. I think a lot of our game, a big part of it, is trying to create that energy through the middle of the pitch. We play through the middle of the pitch a lot.
“It’s what we believe, it’s what I believe in, it’s what the group would continue to do. I thought Jayson was a real driving force in that today and we’ve missed him. He’s a big part of what we want to do. So, yes, there was no doubt, absolutely not no doubt [about starting Molumby against Swansea].”
Molumby celebrated his match-winner on Saturday by running to his manager, and Mason added: “My feeling was more for the group, not about individuals and not about me, so to speak.
“More about the work that everyone puts in, not just the players, all the staff, everyone. It was a nice touch from him because you can see how much it means to him.”