West Brom boss admits 'no defence' after Coventry disappointment

The Baggies were deservedly beaten at the CBS Arena on a clash billed as one of the biggest of their Championship season - where an away win would have put Mowbray's side back in the play-off driving seat.

But the visitors conceded early in either half - with Callum Styles dismissed shortly after the second goal - on a day the meek Baggies barely summoned an effort on target.

Coventry were good value for their 2-0 win and seemed to declare in the closing stages as scores of Albion supporters headed for early exits. Mowbray's men are now left down in eighth, six points adrift of the top six with just nine points left to play for.

"I just think we've lost a little bit of the intensity we normally play at," Mowbray said. "I'm not sure (why that is) - I don't want to sit here ... I've tried to have that discussion in the dressing room with the team but we'll keep it there with them.

"People who follow our club will have seen our performance level. I understand in your industry the narrative is always about the result. I don't have any defence today, I think if you balance it out the better team probably got the points today and that hasn't been the case in a lot of our games in my opinion.

"Particularly in the away games I don't think we've got anywhere near the points we deserved. Today was a disappointing day for us."

Frank Lampard's Sky Blues had two days' less time to prepare for the sell-out CBS Arena clash. But sixth-placed Coventry were vibrant and in control throughout.

"If you want adjectives - disappointing, frustrating, we didn't perform at our level," added Mowbray. "You've watched us, I've been asked about away form - generally away we just haven't accrued the points that we need to.

"Today was a bit different. I don't think we played as well as we did at Norwich away, for example which is most recent on my mind and even in the second half at Bristol City we were pretty dominant.

"Yet we haven't been dominant in the last two games, even though we won last weekend. It's frustrating we aren't getting to the level that we need to be at in such big games."

Asked if he was shocked by the manner of the display he added: "I think 'shocked' is a bit strong. I think the team performed before the level they have shown they can play at."

Albion have won just one game in 20 attempts - 19 in the league - on the road in a dismal run dating back to September and the bright start to the campaign.

That period was also the last time the squad has managed to put together back-to-back victories.

Styles' red card for two bookable offences was a fourth dismissal in 16 games in charge for Mowbray.

The visiting head coach tried to shake things up at the interval with the introduction of John Swift and Grady Diangana from the bench. The former lost the ball in his own box for Matt Grimes to double the lead three minutes into the half before Diangana had to shift to left-back after Styles' red.

"With it being such a big occasion, I think they were a bit unsure why that happened," added the head coach. "I think there are always two teams playing, Coventry are a decent team on a good run.

"Yet I still felt we would come here and would dominate more and just be wary of them counter-attacking. That wasn't the case, they played pretty well in the first half.

"I tried to make the changes at half-time that would've given us more control of the ball and match but we lost a goal in three minutes and had a sending off quickly after. The dynamic of the game changed.

"We're all disappointed and frustrated but it's football and we have to take it on the chin."