Ryan Mason hopes West Brom winner will boost Aune Heggebo’s confidence

West Brom head coach Ryan Mason challenged Aune Heggebo to hit the goal trail after his winner saw them come from behind to beat Oxford 2-1 at The Hawthorns.

Substitute Heggebo glanced home in the 70th minute after Greg Leigh’s own goal ended the Baggies’ 382-minute goal drought and cancelled out Will Lankshear’s opener.

Victory was Albion’s first in five league games and eased the supporters’ growing frustrations at the indifferent form after they booed their side off at half-time.

Heggebo cost £4.75million from Brann in August and the goal – coming just eight minutes after replacing Josh Maja – was only his second in the Championship.

“I think there’s a lot, certainly in terms of goals – I really believe he can contribute a lot more in terms of numbers,” said Mason.

“You saw the type of finish it was – a really good run and a really good finish, so that’s pleasing.

“I’m sure that’s going to give him some confidence going into the games that he can help.

“I’ve never questioned his work-rate and his job he does for the team.

“He produced a top-level performance in terms of a number nine on Tuesday night (1-0 defeat at Charlton) and the only thing that was missing was a goal.

“We need to help him as much as possible to arrive in certain areas and have repetition of the ball arriving in certain areas.”

Mason insisted Albion were fully deserving of the three points, adding: “We were excellent in the first half in terms of chance creation and we had 15 shots at goal.

“What pleased me most was the personality of the team after we went 1-0 down because we could have easily felt sorry for ourselves.”

Oxford had a penalty appeal turned down when on-loan Tottenham striker Will Lankshear – who finished last season at Albion – appeared to be wrestled to the ground by Nat Phillips.

Mason said: “I’ve not seen it back but I was not worried about it. But this is football and you have to take the next action.”

Albion largely dominated but it was a familiar story as they struggled to convert their chances.

Isaac Price’s glancing header was nodded away and Maja didn’t react quickly enough to Przemyslaw Placheta’s awful clearance.

Mikey Johnston’s poked follow-up was saved by goalkeeper Jamie Cumming and the same player also curled a couple of yards wide.

Oxford had their chances with Placheta firing wide and midfielder Cameron Brannagan forcing two fingertip saves from Josh Griffiths from long range.

Lankshear converted Placheta’s cross after 54 minutes for his fifth goal for United after failing to find the net for West Brom.

Albion levelled two minutes later when Johnston’s cross was turned home by Leigh before Heggebo headed in Price’s cross for the winner.

Oxford head coach Gary Rowett felt his side should have had a penalty for the Lankshear-Phillips incident.

“Will was backing in, it felt like Phillips dragged him to the ground,” said Rowett.

“But we haven’t had a penalty in well over a year. If that had happened in the middle of the pitch, it’s going to be a foul.

“I understand the jeopardy level is higher in the box but you can’t get much higher than when your striker is dragged to the ground.

“Sometimes it feels that when you’re a smaller team, you have to do a bit more to get those moments.”