"The same every week" Tony Mowbray makes point after "deserved" West Brom win

The Baggies dispatched of their lowly visitors thanks to an early Alex Mowatt strike and a late clincher from John Swift at The Hawthorns.

Albion were always in charge and Mowbray labelled the victory "deserved" but the head coach admitted the contest was closer than the Baggies would have liked before Swift put the 102nd-minute seal on the points after U's goalkeeper Jamie Cumming had committed for a corner.

The hosts had 22 shots, of which just five were on target and 10 arrived from outside the area.

"It's the same as every week, eh?" Mowbray said when asked about turning shots into clearer openings. "I thought we dominated for long, long spells against Blackburn but lost 2-0 because we didn't take our chances and that's football.

"We have to get better at creating 20 chances (shots), hitting the target with at least 10 of them and scoring three or four goals. That's the better balance. We have four or five shots on target every week from 15 or 20 shots. We have to be more clinical, find the way to get in behind or through them, like the first goal today.

"Mowatt's goal was consecutive forward passes and he's breaking into the box and scores. We need to do that more, but it is a process we have to go through. This team generally wants to play safe a little at times and I'm just trying to change habits."

Mowatt finished well from a neat team move involving midfield colleagues Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price for the important opener after just 11 minutes.

Price caught the eye once more and winger Mikey Johnston was busy. Albion's best efforts came from range as Cumming saved well from Adam Armstrong's 18-yard volley and Mowatt's effort from 25 yards in the second period.

Armstrong failed to connect with a fine low Callum Styles cross in the second period as a presentable opening got away.

Gary Rowatt's visitors did not test goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith, but a couple of set-pieces deep into lengthy stoppage time caused uncomfortable tension around The Hawthorns.

"I think it was a deserved win," Mowbray said. "It was tighter than we would've liked it, of course, with them having long throws in the last seconds, the lads were telling me that's what happened at Oxford away with them scoring in the last second to equalise.

"I'm pleased. I think we dominated for long spells, played a lot of the game in their half, I don't think our goalie made a save. I think it was the right result, if such a thing exists. I think we got what we deserved."