Goals from defenders Jonny Evans and Craig Dawson have helped West Bromwich Albion to a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon, ending the Baggies' 20-match winless streak in the Premier League.
The Baggies, who lasted tasted a top-flight victory in the opening month of the campaign, picked up all three points at The Hawthorns to move within two of safety.
Victory for West Brom also maintained their impressive record in this fixture, having never lost a home game against today's opponents in a run now stretching to 10 games.
Jose Izquierdo fired in an early warning shot for the visitors, who have won just one of their last 12 away league outings and failed to score in their last six since November.
That was a record Alan Pardew was keen to capitalise on, and his side were in front with just four minutes played thanks to an acrobatic header from Evans after Jay Rodriguez flicked on a corner.
Dawson came close from the next set piece and Matty Phillips had a penalty shout for handball turned down, as Albion looked to double their tally for the afternoon.
Brighton had the odd chance of their own, with Davy Propper's deflected shot requiring Ben Foster to save, but it was the Baggies looking the brightest as a poor touch from Dawson denied him a clear shooting chance.
Following a couple of wayward shots at either end, West Brom had an all-important second through Dawson, who powered Chris Brunt's corner into the ground and past Mathew Ryan - the 17th set-piece goal conceded by Brighton this term.
Chris Hughton turned to Sam Baldock for some inspiration and it almost paid instant dividends, with the substitute playing a key part in the next attacking move, culminating in Anthony Knockaert skying over the bar from a glorious position.
A chance also came and went for Albion striker Solomon Rondon, who could only pick out the side-netting, and the same player failed to find the target in added time when slotted through.
Shortly before that second miss, Albion lost goalscorer Evans to injury on what could potentially be his final outing for the club amid ongoing transfer speculation, but the damage had been done on the pitch long before that in a first league win at The Hawthorns for Pardew.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-2): Foster; Gibbs, Evans (McAuley 84'), Hegazi, Dawson (Nyon 81'); Phillips, Barry, Krychowiak, Brunt; Rodriguez (Livermore 79'), Rondon
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper (Kayal 76'), Izquierdo (March 46'); Gross (Baldock 66'); Murray
Daniel Lewis
