Match ends, Hull City 0, West Bromwich Albion 2.
Two goals from Karlan Grant ended West Bromwich Albion's awful run of form to give Steve Bruce his first win as Baggies boss against his former club Hull City.
Top scorer Grant flicked home Alex Mowatt's fine cross to give Albion the lead as the visitors bossed the first half at the MKM Stadium.
Grant then made it two from the penalty spot early in the second half after Taylor Gardner-Hickman had been brought down by Jacob Greaves.
Hull never really offered any sustained pressure, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Tom Eaves unable to make the most of decent chances.
With skipper Jake Livermore crucially back for Albion after his four-game ban alongside recalled youngster Gardner-Hickman in midfield, the Baggies ended their wretched run of six straight away defeats to breathe life into their fading play-off challenge.
But, although still in the Championship bottom half, in 13th, they are only six points outside the play-offs going into next Friday night's home clash with another of Bruce's old clubs, automatic promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town.
Albion's fifth successive win over Hull was the Tigers' fourth successive loss at home without scoring and a fifth in eight overall - and right from the outset it looked about being a case of whether the visitors, who had left out target man Andy Carroll to deploy a 3-5-2 system, could take their chances.
Conor Townsend headed wide from fellow wing-back Darnell Furlong's early right-wing cross and then aimed another header too close to home keeper Matt Ingram, who also saved from Grant.
But Albion's pressure told on 17 minutes when Grant, who got the winner in this season's first meeting between the sides in November, produced a tidy finish to slot in Mowatt's excellent ball from the right.
Grant went close again as the half wore on but nodded over Townsend's pinpoint cross.
Hull, whose win over Peterborough in their last match was their first in seven games, then enjoyed their best period with Lewis-Potter twice going close. First he lashed over the bar from close range before seeing a goal-bound effort from just outside the box blocked away.
But all Hull's momentum faded early in the second half when Gardner-Hickman was bundled over in the box by Greaves - and Grant sent Ingram the wrong way from the spot.
The Tigers did their best to rally, as Greaves' stinging effort was tipped around the post by Sam Johnstone before Eaves had a number of half chances - heading wide a Brandon Fleming centre before hitting one effort wide and seeing another blocked away.
Grant had a late chance to make it a hat-trick but could not match the quality of Grady Diangana's through ball with a finish.
But that will not take the gloss off a much-needed improvement from Bruce's side, who tripled their goal return under their new boss and will still believe a run into the play-off places is still possible.
Hull City manager Shota Arveladze told BBC Radio Humberside:
"We stayed in the game and the second goal kills it a little bit.
"We didn't create many good chances, maybe one or two, but not enough in the second half - no shots on goal.
"It makes us a little bit sad but I still see many positive things and I believe we'll make the fans happy again."
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce told BBC Radio WM:
"I'm pleased for everyone - it's been a long wait and it's been a difficult month. I would've hoped I'd have had a better reaction than it's been, but it's a start.
"The first half hour was the best we've played since I've been at the club and when the penalty went it we were always in control of the match.
"We've still got a lot to improve on but we're up and running. Let's see if we can make a charge."
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Ingram
- 5Jones
- 17McLoughlinBooked at 73mins
- 4GreavesBooked at 47mins
- 27SlaterSubstituted forLongmanat 78'minutes
- 6Smallwood
- 8DochertySubstituted forSayyadmaneshat 63'minutes
- 21Fleming
- 10Honeyman
- 11Lewis-Potter
- 22SmithSubstituted forEavesat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Eaves
- 16Longman
- 20Sayyadmanesh
- 23Huddlestone
- 24Bernard
- 32Cartwright
- 45Walsh
West Brom
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Johnstone
- 6Ajayi
- 5Bartley
- 16ClarkeBooked at 27mins
- 2Furlong
- 29Gardner-HickmanSubstituted forMolumbyat 87'minutes
- 8Livermore
- 27Mowatt
- 3Townsend
- 18GrantSubstituted forCarrollat 89'minutes
- 7RobinsonBooked at 82minsSubstituted forDianganaat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 4O'Shea
- 11Diangana
- 14Molumby
- 15Carroll
- 20Reach
- 21Kipré
- 25Button
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 13,643
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 0, West Bromwich Albion 2.
Post update
Foul by Tom Eaves (Hull City).
Post update
Matthew Clarke (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Sean McLoughlin (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Andy Carroll (West Bromwich Albion).
Post update
Foul by Tom Eaves (Hull City).
Post update
Matthew Clarke (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Andy Carroll replaces Karlan Grant.
Post update
Attempt saved. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Grady Diangana with a through ball.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Jayson Molumby replaces Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Eaves (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Eaves (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Conor Townsend.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana replaces Callum Robinson.
Booking
Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Eaves (Hull City) header from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Richard Smallwood with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Brandon Fleming (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Ryan Longman replaces Regan Slater.
Post update
Foul by Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Hull City).
Comments
Join the conversation
If I was them I'd be more concerned about their recent form.
Go you baggies cheers from
Christchurch
New Zealand
Not good enough for pl yet need another season in the championship to build a better team with consistency
Then again I suppose any win is a massive achievement and such a rarity. When you aren't used to winning then of course you need to celebrate. Make the most of it could be a long time before the next one !!!
How often do all three teams from Birmingham win? #KRO #BSHLOUT
Stature in the game, current $MultiB's wealth and honours is all that counts.
West Brom nowhere near the prem ever again. Brucie is a dino who only needs the dingle to get the full set.
The Wilfs only have a few points more and will be getting very little more.
Sing about Aston Villa - there there all better now 🤣 👍
Good performance from WBA against an always dangerous Hull City
Really looks ike Steve Bruce has instilled some steel and nouse into the WBA defence and got thei forward line firing.
Consolidate after all the turmoil this season, then Baggies under Bruce should be top-6 side next year
Hull should bring back legendary manager, Phil Brown