Report and pictures of Albion 0 Newcastle 2

Goals from Ayoze Perez and Fabricio Coloccini condemned West Brom to defeat as they were punished for a dismal display.

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The Baggies had half-chances during a first half in which both sides struggled to get going.

But Perez gave his side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a wonderful finish and Albion's second-half response was awful, with Coloccini making sure of the win with a 62nd-minute header.

There was a disjointed start from both sides at the Hawthorns but the game settled into a pattern gradually and it was the Magpies who had the first attempt on goal.

A poor headed clearance from Albion's Craig Dawson fell to Sammy Ameobi, who let fly with a shot that grazed the Baggies crossbar on its way into the Birmingham Road End.

But Albion then gained a foothold after being on the defensive in the opening stages.

And a clever passing move could have brought the opening goal as Chris Brunt picked out Victor Anichebe with a smart pass and he produced a strong lay-off for Saido Berahino.

The young striker was off balance but still managed a shot on target with a wrong-footed Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal tipping the ball over unconvincingly.

The visiting keeper than gathered a long-range effort from Sebastien Pocognoli, before Brunt headed just wide from a right-wing cross by Graham Dorrans.

And Albion retained the upper hand as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, with Anichebe attempting to justify his surprise inclusion with a display of growing influence.

First he was inches away from charging down a clearance by Krul and then he used his strength to force his way between two defenders and latch onto a through-ball from Craig Dawson.

But as he drew his foot back to shoot, he was blocked by the covering Paul Dummett.

After a brief burst of entertainment, the half ended in the same low-key manner in which it began with both sides struggling for cohesion.

Albion had edged a poor opening half and threatened when Anichebe bullied his way into the box and forced a corner.

But there was a sting in the tail for the hosts thanks to Perez's brilliant goal ,as he produced a sublime back-flick to turn home a cross by Daryl Janmaat.

The second-half began in scrappy fashion, too, and it took until just before the hour mark for either side to register a shot at goal.

That side was Albion, who constructed a decent move from a left-wing throw in and teed up Youssouf Mulumbu, who dragged a shot wide from just outside the box.

However, on 62 minutes they found themselves in even bigger trouble when they fell 2-0 behind.

They failed to deal properly with a corner and, when Newcastle recycled it and found Janmaat out wide.

He produced a wonderful cross that was powered home by the head of Coloccini, who had stayed forward after the set-piece.

Albion's response to the second goal was limp, despite the introduction of Stephane Sessegnon and Georgios Samaras from the bench.

They had a chance with 10 minutes to go when a flick from Anichebe fell to Andre Wisdom in the box, but he snatched at his shot and it went well wide.

But it was Newcastle who looked more likely to add a third and Albion had Foster to thank for a fine save to tip over a volley from Perez late on.