Steve Bruce apologises as Luton boss reveals West Brom tactic caught them by surprise

Steve Bruce is becoming increasingly aware of the scale of the job on his hands after witnessing West Bromwich Albion put in yet another poor performance.

The Baggies fell to a 2-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road on Saturday to promotion rivals Luton Town, although pairing the two teams in the same bracket might be folly before long.

With every week that passes West Brom slip further down the Championship table; they now find themselves in 11th position, four points outside the top six but with a game extra played than the teams between them and the play-offs.

This was their sixth defeat in ten league games, with just one win squeezed in there. Forget promotion - that's tantamount to relegation form.

Once against Albion were profligate in front of goal, taking 16 shots on the Hatters' goal but coming up with nothing but a donut as the hosts scored twice in the second half through veteran striker Cameron Jerome and midfielder Allan Campbell.

With no goals in Bruce's opening three games, there is one obvious shortcoming in the side that the former Aston Villa and Newcastle United boss needs to improve on immediately.

“The one thing I won’t be doing is trying to b******t anyone. I won’t accept the second half from a team of mine,” the West Brom head coach said after the game.

“We need to instil that into them because I won’t accept the second half.

“I thought we should have been in front in the first half, but I have to say our reaction to conceding a goal was not enough. To say I’m disappointed with it is an understatement and I can only apologise to the people who followed us. As soon as we went a goal behind we didn’t do anything to redeem it.

“In the first half I was probably as pleased as I have been with the three