Saido Berahino's late strike has given Tony Pulis a 1-0 victory over Hull City in his first Premier League game in charge of West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.
The match seemed to be drifting towards a scoreless draw until Berahino rifled home a 78th-minute indirect free kick, after Allan McGregor had handled Ahmed Elmohamady's back-pass.
Hull's Maynor Figueroa looked lively in the opening stages of his first start top-flight since May and flashed an audacious effort wide in the fifth minute.
© Getty Images
West Brom's first chance came after 18 minutes following a good exchange between Berahino and Stephane Sessegnon, but the former could only roll the ball wide from a promising position.
McGregor was then tested by the England Under-21 striker, but he comfortably dealt with his 20-yard effort.
Hull's forward duo were starved of possession for the majority of the first half and when Abel Hernandez eventually got the ball, he blazed a 35-yard volley over the bar.
Hernandez and Nikica Jelavic then both left the field through injury in a miserable first half for the Tigers, who should have fallen a goal behind on the stroke of half time, only for Brown Ideye to scuff his shot wide of the mark, despite being found in acres of space in front of goal.
The injuries to Jelavic and Hernandez left Hull without a recognised striker and nobody was on hand to tap home Stephen Quinn's dangerous low cross 10 minutes into the second half.
Neither side were able to create any chances for the majority of a scrappy second half, with both goalkeepers acting as mere onlookers.
However, with little more than 10 minutes remaining, Berahino slammed the ball home from close range to hand the Baggies all three points.
Kristian Johnson
