BBC SPORT | Football | Premiership (original) (raw)

West Brom notched their first league win under Bryan Robson to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Kevin Campbell marked his home debut with a sweetly-struck shot from Martin Albrechtsen's cross to fire Albion into an early lead.

Albion doubled their lead late on, when Ronnie Wallwork's diving header rounded off a fine move.

Referee Graham Poll wiped out Richard Dunne's late strike, ruling he had not signalled for a free-kick to be taken.

With their task made even harder by results elsewhere West Brom almost fell behind in the opening minute when Shaun Wright-Phillps squirmed to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Antoine Sibierski who crashed a shot inches wide.

But that only served to jolt West Brom into action and with four minutes on the clock Campbell marked his home debut by firing the Baggies ahead.

Martin Albrechtsen made ground down the right and played in a cross which former Everton striker Campbell met first-time to place his shot beyond David James' outstretched right-hand.

Wright-Phillips's pace took him beyond the Albion defence but Darren Purse made ground to get in an important block.

Kevin Campbell shows concentration to fire in the opening goal

Albion had to work hard to maintain their lead as City forced a series of corners, and Neil Clement and Purse both won important headers as City threatened.

But it was an open game that swung from end-to-end and Wallwork's cross found Campbell who tried to tee-up Robert Earnshaw but Joey Barton saw the danger and nicked the ball off the striker's toes.

Earnshaw showed his paces to chase a long through ball and as he raced clear of Dunne he opted to take the shot early and fired wide.

Both sides continued to create chances and Robbie Fowler worked himself a yard of space on the edge of the Albion box but fired his shot straight at Hoult.

Wright-Phillips' shot looped up off Purse to safety with Hoult stranded while at the other end Earnshaw saw Sylvain Distin get enough of a block on his effort to take the sting out of it.

James reacted sharply to save Earnshaw's snap-shot and Sibierski then climbed well above Albrechtsen but planted his header wide from seven yards.

City began the second half in determined mood and Fowler's clever pass beyond the far post found Sibierski sneaking in around the back and Hoult was forced into action.

West Brom were falling under increasing pressure and West Brom boss Bryan Robson replaced Earnshaw with Geoff Horsfield to try and make the ball stick up front.

Albion's Robert Earnshaw (right) closes in on Sylvain Distin

Jonathan Macken's neat touch put Fowler in on goal but for once his first touch let him down, allowing Hoult to grab the ball.

England keeper James kept his side in the game, launching himself up to his left to spectacularly tip over Jonathan Greening's shot which was heading for the top left-hand corner.

Joey Barton burst a couple of challenges in midfield to send Wright-Phillips away and the youngster whipped a wicked ball across the face of goal which was inches away from Macken's lunge.

Fowler then curled in a vicious free-kick which cried out for a city touch but as nobody gambled Hoult was able to punch clear.

Albion desperately needed the cushion of a second goal and almost got it on 75 minutes when Wallwork arrived late on the scene to Campbell's cross to plant a header inches wide with James transfixed.

Wallwork provided a better finish to double Albion's lead with ten minutes left.

Campbell fed Greening who stood a perfect ball up at the far post for Horsfield to nod the ball back across goal where Wallwork arrived to plant in a diving header for his first Baggies' goal.

Referee Graham Poll courted controversy when he ruled out Dunne's stunning strike from a free-kick which might have given City a lifeline back into the game, ruling he had not signalled for the kick to be taken.

West Brom: Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Scimeca, Wallwork, Greening, Earnshaw (Horsfield 57), Campbell (Gaardsoe 90).
Subs Not Used: Contra, Kanu, Kuszczak.

Booked: Robinson, Gera.

Goals: Campbell 5, Wallwork 81.

Man City: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski (McManaman 68), Macken (Bradley Wright-Phillips 67), Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Sommeil, Onuoha, Waterreus.

Att: 25,348.