Express & Star

West Brom 1 Hull City 0 - Report and pictures

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Saido Berahino ended a difficult week with the winning goal as Tony Pulis tasted victory in his first official Premier League game as West Brom boss.

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The Hawthorns crowd witnessed another dismal spectacle, as Pulis picked the Baggies team for the first time in a league game.

But they saw their side pick up a huge victory courtesy of Berahino, who produced a man-of-the-match display.

Record signing Brown Ideye missed a glorious chance late in the first half as his troubled start to life at Albion continued.

After it emerged he had been charged with drink driving and then he refused to celebrate his four FA Cup goals against Gateshead, Berahino bagged his 14th goal of the season .

Albion started the game on the front foot but there was little to report in the opening 18 minutes aside from a long-range effort for Hull from Maynor Figueroa that flew harmlessly wide.

Then Saido Berahino showed fine balance and strength to cut in off the right flank and link up cleverly with Stephane Sessegnon to create the first clear chance of the game.

Berahino burst into the box to collect Sessegnon's return pass but he sent his right-footed shot just wide of the target.

Berahino drew a routine save from McGregor moments later, after being teed up by Chris Brunt.

Saido Berahino of West Bromwich Albion scores after combining with Victor Anichebe of West Bromwich Albion to strike a free kick.

Then the Baggies had a boost when both Hull strikers, Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez, limped off injured to leave visiting manager Steve Bruce without a recognised forward on the field.

Hull's best chance of the half arrived on 40 minutes when substitute Robbie Brady tried his luck with a fierce shot from a tight angle.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster tipped over acrobatically to avoid any risk of it creeping into the top corner.

But Ideye's moment came three minutes before the interval. He was put in the clear by Berahino's clever pass, only to drag his shot wide of the far post with just McGregor to beat.

The poor quality of play continued into the second-half and it took 13 minutes for either side to have an attempt at goal, with Berahino hitting a left-footed effort well wide from the edge of the area.

Just after the hour-mark Berahino fired a low cross-shot across the face of goal, but neither Ideye nor Sessegnon could stretch out to turn it in.

And the rest of the half was a non-event until 12 minutes from time when Berahino turned match-winner yet again.

Ahmed Elmohamady was penalised for a needless backpass and, when substitute Victor Anichebe rolled a short free-kick to Berahino, he blasted home through the Hull wall and wheeled away to celebrate.

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