Alan Irvine’s side has a win for the first time in five Premier League matches, as Craig Gardner’s goal capped a sleepy affair at the Hawthorns, and cooled off 10-man Aston Villa by a 1-0 score.
The Baggies climb three points clear of the drop zone, and two points back of 12th place Aston Villa. The Villans are stuck on 19 points.
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West Brom took 13 shots to Villa’s 7, and looked the only team truly capable of finding the breakthrough, particularly after the visitors went down to 10 men.
An early red card to Kieran Richardson severely limited Villa’s chances on the road, as the veteran made an extremely poor, late, high tackle in the 22nd minute and was sent off.
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And Gardner found the winner in the 72nd minute to lift the home side to the three points.
Lineups
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Wisdom, Lescott, McAuley, Pocognoli, Gardner, Dorrans (Berahino, 70'), Morrison, Varela, Sessegnon, Ideye
Goal: Gardner (72')
Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho (Weimann, 78'), Sanchez (Vlaar, 78'), Richardson, Cleverley, N’Zogbia (Delph, 45'), Agbonlahor, Benteke