Five things learned from West Brom's trip to Hull

West Brom's slump continued with a 1-0 defeat at Hull over the weekend.

Sako was one man who didn't grasp his opportunity in the game. (AMA)

Here are five things we learned from the game...

Confidence is ebbing away

Confidence is not flowing at Albion now (AMA)

On paper it was an inviting fixture to get the Baggies back up and running.

Hull City had one win in their previous eight league games and had only beaten bottom club Ipswich at home. But it was the sort of listless defeat that brought flashbacks to last season.

Albion simply didn’t have any answers to Hull’s determination and endeavour and were kept at arm’s length in the second half far too easily.

The best teams react to defeat strongly, but Albion are struggling to get out of this funk.

Squad players fail to stake a claim

When Darren Moore sent on Bakary Sako and Oliver Burke with 25 minutes to go, it was the positive change many had been crying out for. But neither managed to make a positive impact on the game.

Sako got on the ball plenty of times, but lost possession too regularly. Burke, meanwhile, barely featured.

It’s harsh to judge players on a 25-minute snapshot, but those two failed to give Moore too much food for thought.

Sam Field and Conor Townsend coped better, although the latter failed to react to the second ball for Hull’s goal.

Tosin Adarabioyo should keep his place

Tosin Adarabioyo deserves to keep his place (AMA)

One of the few positives from a desperate afternoon was the youngster’s performance.

Whether he was at left centre-back or right-back, he barely put a foot wrong.

His composure on the ball showed up his experienced team-mates and his overall defending has improved.

Albion’s reliance on loanees is worrying for their long-term future, but Adarabioyo’s form is promising in the short-term.

He deserves to keep his place against Leeds, even though Kyle Bartley will return from suspension.

Injuries taking their toll

Without Dwight Gayle, Albion’s threat in front of goal diminishes.

Without Gareth Barry, their control in midfield stutters.

We have reached the part of the season where injuries and suspensions begin to play a part.

The Baggies welcome Leeds to The Hawthorns on Saturday, whose form this season has also been blighted by injuries.

When Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez were injured, they stuttered. But now they’re back, Marcelo Bielsa’s men are back on top of the league.

Albion need Gayle, Barry and Kieran Gibbs back quickly.

Time to become hard to beat again

Darren Moore needs to make Albion hard to beat (AMA)

One of the hallmarks of Darren Moore’s six games in charge as caretaker boss was Albion’s rearguard action. They were well drilled and difficult to get at.

He’s changed the approach this season to play more on the front foot, but the Baggies need to rediscover their miserly defence.

One clean sheet all season is not good enough, but Moore has proved himself capable of organising a backline before.

Now the goals have dried up at the other end, it’s time to grind out a scruffy 1-0.