West Brom must reveal stance as fans demand Valerien Ismael action

Another away defeat. Another to nil score-line. Another managerial decision to make?

West Bromwich Albion were, for at least three quarters of this defeat at Millwall, as dreadful as they were against Preston in the week and it now leaves Valerien Ismael staring down the barrel of the sack.

Mason Bennett and Benik Afobe scored a second half goal apiece to inflict another damaging defeat on Albion and perhaps provide the knock-out blow as the Albion cling on grimly to a play-off place - for now.

Results elsewhere didn’t help their cause.

It’s a result, and another performance, which only serves to heap more pressure on the shoulders of Ismael, who had promised a reaction on Friday.

Here are the talking points from The Den.

It’s ironic, really, that we’re so close to deadline day yet nobody connected to Albion is even talking about the transfer window as they usually would - the only thought on the minds of the vast majority of the fanbase after this rotten afternoon in London was whether the time has now come for a change of leadership and direction.

One way or the other, the club have to address it. These last couple of games against Preston and Millwall have been awful in every sense and the collective mood of the fanbase, and the toxic atmosphere that they’ve generated home and away, is simply too intense to ignore.

Ismael recognises the situation. He admitted himself that the current run of form is unacceptable and, as such, the threat of the axe falling imminently is a very real one. Now, for the sake of the manager, the players and the fanbase, the club must offer clarity on their stance.

The manager leads by example. He takes the responsibility. Ismael hasn’t offered enough flexibility at any stage this season and