Express & Star

Norwich City 0 West Brom 1 - match report and pictures

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Albion burst through the 30-point barrier to boost their chances of Premier League survival as Morgan Amalfitano's goal gave them a vital win at Carrow Road.

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The Baggies responded to another troubled week at The Hawthorns with a performance of aggression and commitment to deliver Pepe Mel's second win as boss.

Amalfitano finished off a fine team move to score the only goal on 16 minutes and the Baggies were the better side despite some chances for the home side.

And they held firm at the end to send 2,500 travelling fans home delighted.

Albion had a major scare after just 17 seconds when goalkeeper Ben Foster had to race out to clear from outside his area Gareth McAuley failed to connect properly with a backpass.

And the Canaries might have taken an early lead when several failed clearances from the Baggies ended with a Robert Snodgrass cross deflecting to Johan Elmander just inside the Norwich area.

The Swede blazed his shot over the crossbar when he should have tested Foster.

But Albion found their feet and went ahead on 16 minutes courtesy of a fine move and some questionable defending from their hosts.

They worked the ball from left to right through Graham Dorrans, James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu before Amalfitano side-stepped away from a flat-footed Martin Olsson and beat goalkeeper John Ruddy low down.

Albion could have doubled their lead when a free-kick from Dorrans found its way across the face of goal and just evaded the outstretched leg of Jonas Olsson at the far post.

But they had Steven Reid to thank moments later for a vital headed clearance to prevent Russell Martin meeting a Snodgrass cross at the far post.

They should have doubled their lead when Matej Vydra broke from halfway and exchanged passes with Stephane Sessegnon, only for his shot to be parried by John Ruddy in the home goal.

But Norwich had another chance late in the first half when Foster made a smart save with his fingers to keep out a header from Elmander.

Early in the second half, Vydra burst away from Alex Tettey on Albion's left flank but saw his cross towards Sessegnon cut out.

But there were a couple of scares for the Baggies, first when Gary Hooper struck the bar with a powerful shot and then when Foster had to tip over a Snodgrass free-kick.

The hosts had another shooting chance but Snodgrass slipped and his effort flew high and wide.

Albion were forced into changes as Zoltan Gera replaced the injured Dorrans, only for Gera himself to limp off and Liam O'Neil to replace him.

But the Baggies held off some late Canaries pressure for a priceless three points.