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IN PICTURES: West Brom 1 West Ham 2

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West Brom fans turned up the heat another notch on beleaguered boss Alan Irvine as his side squandered a 1-0 lead and slumped to a fourth successive Premier League defeat.

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Craig Dawson's header provided the Baggies' first goal in four games to reward them for a good start with a 10th-minute lead.

But the goal appeared to prompt nerves within Irvine's team and they conceded two poor goals before half-time, giving free headers to Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins.

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Under-pressure Irvine, who had been targeted by a section of fans in Saturday's defeat to Arsenal, suffered again – this time becoming the victim of gallows humour.

Fans sang "Taxi for Irvine," "Alan Irvine, football genius" and "he's just glad to be here" as the pressure mounted on the Scot.

Irvine had made two changes from the side beaten by the Gunners with Chris Baird replacing the injured Sebastien Pocognoli while Victor Anichebe came in for Youssouf Mulumbu, meaning a switch to a wide role for leading scorer Saido Berahino.

Albion made a determined start and had already carved out a couple of half-chances before taking their 10th-minute lead.

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The first two fell to Anichebe, whose cross-shot from a tight angle was headed behind before he overpowered two defenders and let fly with a 20-yard shot that was deflected over the crossbar for another flag-kick.

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Dawson signalled his threat from set-pieces twice early on, first when he just failed to make a clean connection with a Chris Brunt corner after jumping highest in the area and then when he headed into the side netting at the far post from another flag-kick by the skipper.

But the visitors failed to heed the warnings and left the determined Baggies defender unmarked to head his side in front with their first goal in four Premier League matches.

The beauty of the goal was in a fabulously whipped-in free-kick from the left from the right foot of Graham Dorrans.

And Dawson surged in to head it past a helpless Adrian before checking for an offside flag that never came and wheeling away to celebrate.

It had been a sluggish start from the Hammers but, as the first half wore on, they grew into the game and made the most of some sloppy passing from Albion.

And home keeper Ben Foster had to make a fine, reaction save to keep out an athletic overhead kick from visiting captain Kevin Nolan on 20 minutes in the midst of a frantic scramble inside the six-yard box.

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The Hammers had seized the initiative so it was no surprise when they levelled 10 minutes before the interval, although Brunt was furious at the award of a free-kick for a foul on Nolan which led to a booking and ultimately the equaliser.

Brunt headed away James Tomkins' header from the set-piece and Foster saved an overhead kick from Andy Carroll but neither could prevent the unmarked Nolan heading home from close range.

And it got worse in stoppage-time when Tomkins escaped the attentions of Dawson and rose at the far post to head his side ahead at the far post from a Stewart Downing corner.

Albion began the second half as nervously as they had ended the first and yet they should have been level within 10 minutes of the restart.

Youssouf Mulumbu, who had replaced injured captain Brunt seconds before the second West Ham goal, floated a ball to the far post and Joleon Lescott headed it across goal.

Berahino failed to connect but it dropped for the unmarked Dawson, who dragged a right-footed shot wide from 15 yards with the whole goal to aim at.

They had another opening just after the hour-mark when a free-kick dropped inside a crowded box for Berahino, but the youngster dragged a tame shot straight at Adrian.

And Anichebe latched onto a through-ball from Berahino but saw his near-post shot beaten away by Adrian.

There were ironic cheers when Silvestre Varela, who fans had been clamouring to see, replaced Craig Gardner.

And his arrival was followed by chants of 'we want Brown' as they demanding a sighting of record signing Brown Ideye.

Anichebe turned on the edge of the box and let fly with a shot that flew well wide and Varela had two efforts charged down just inside the area.

Then Baird dragged an effort wide from 20 yards before Stephane Sessegnon headed straight at Adrian from a cross by Varela.

And Anichebe had another shot blocked as the Baggies applied some late pressure and forced another scramble in the Hammers box.

Albion continued to make the running and another shot on the turn by Anichebe ballooned off a Hammers defender and looped into Adrian's arm.

And in the dying moments Anichebe had a shot parried by Adrian before Graham Dorrans saw a right-footed shot fly just wide from distance.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster 6; Wisdom 5, Dawson 6, Lescott 8, Baird 5 (Ideye, 83); Gardner 6 (Varela, 65, 7), Brunt 6 (Mulumbu, 45, 6); Dorrans 6, Sessegnon 6, Berahino 6; Anichebe 7. Subs not used: Gamboa, McAuley, Samaras, Myhill (gk).

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell; Nolan, Kouyate; Amalfitano (Collins, 65), Downing, Zarate (Cole, 78); Carroll (Valencia, 65). Subs not used: Jarvis, O'Brien, Demel, Jaaskelainen (gk).

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Attendance: 23,975

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