West Bromwich Albion may’ve made their threats to their safety purely academic with a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
James Morrison struck early and Craig Gardner added a gorgeous bit of insurance as the Baggies beat in-form Palace to move into 13th place, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Palace’s table charge is momentarily halted, as Alan Pardew’s boys sit 11th with 42 points.
[ RELATED: Watch full match replays ]
A second-minute corner kick did the trick for West Brom, as Chris Brunt’s curling outswinger dipped right into the center of the box. Morrison raced past an off-balance Jason Puncheon to head home uncontested. Alan Pardew wouldn’t be pleased with that, 1-0 West Brom.
A likely save of the week candidate came in the 31st minute, when Boaz Myhill leapt for a reactive save on Yannick Bolasie’s bicycle kick attempt.
[ RELATED: Latest Premier League standings ]
Alan Pardew broke out a pair of halftime subs, taking off Mile Jedinak and Joe Ledley in an attempt to spice up the attack, with Dwight Gayle up front and Papa Souare as a threat from left back.
But the Baggies only increased their lead when an out-swinging corner kick drifted through everyone. Gardner raced onto the loose ball about 25 yards out, took a touch and lashed a curler past Speroni. A truly “wow” moment extended the lead to two.
Substitute Yaya Sanogo had an 85th minute goal called back for offsides. He was, albeit by a slim margins.
LINEUPS
Crystal Palace: Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Dann, Ledley (Souare, 46'); Bolasie, Jedinak (Gayle, 46'), McArthur (Sanogo, 80'), Zaha; Puncheon; Murray.
West Bromwich Albion: Myhill, Dawson (Wisdom, 71'), McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Gardner (Olsson, 81'), Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, Berahino, Anichebe.
Goal: Morrison (2'), Gardner (53')