West Brom 1 Villa 0 - Report and pictures

Former Baggies loanee Kieran Richardson was sent off on 23 minutes for a high tackle on Stephane Sessegnon.

And the hosts finally made their numerical advantage pay, when boyhood Birmingham City fan Gardner struck with 18 minutes to go and sprinted to celebrate with under-pressure boss Alan Irvine.

The Scot had taken a chance by handing rare starts to record signing Brown Ideye, who struggled, and summer loan signing Silvestre Varela, who impressed on his full debut.

Albion made a bright start and twice early on they had some joy down Villa's right flank.

First it was Varela who went past Alan Hutton easily but failed to pick out Ideye at the far post.

And then Sebastien Pocognoli skinned Carlos Sanchez and cut into the box after a smart Baggies move.

His near-post shot was parried by Brad Guzan with the American keeper clutching the ball at the second attempt.

Villa had a couple of chances to threaten the Baggies with Gabby Agbonlahor's pace but Villa were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half.

Richardson's heavy touch forced him to dive in with a high tackle on Sessegnon and referee Mike Dean showed the former Baggies loanee a straight red card for dangerous play.

Albion then had three penalty appeals in a matter of minutes as referee Mike Jones came under pressure from the Hawthorns crowd.

First Ideye appealed for a shove in the back by Jores Okore as he tried to meet a Sessegnon cross and then there were claims of handball against Sanchez as he blocked a Sessegnon cross.

And Craig Gardner claimed he was tripped by Sanchez. All three were ambitious appeals but they gave impetus to the home crowd.

It was goalless at the break but Albion started the second half on the front foot. First Varela met an Andre Wisdom cross with a far-post volley which was blocked by Alan Hutton.

Then Varela tried his luck from outside the box with a curling shot that dipped just over.

A fine pass by Sessegnon released released Varela again on the left and his cross found Ideye, but the big-money striker fired over on the volley when he should have hit the target.

And, with 22 minutes to play, Sessegnon hit a low shot that have Guzan an easy save.

But the deadlock was broken with 18 minutes remaining when leading scorer Saido Berahino, who was sent on to add an extra goal threat, turned provider.

His cross from the right was missed by Guzan and Ideye in the centre, Sessegnon's shot was blocked but Gardner followed in with an emphatic finish.

Villa could have been level with 12 minutes to play when Tom Cleverley's free-kick was nodded down by Ciaran Clark and Christian Benteke's instinctive shot went just wide.

Late on Berahino made a smart run through the middle but opted to go it alone when he had Ideye screaming for a pass and was eventually crowded out.