West Brom eased the pressure on head coach Ryan Mason with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies had slipped into the bottom half of the Championship after six defeats in their last 10, but moved up to 14th – outside the top half on goal difference alone – thanks to in-form striker Aune Heggebo’s seventh goal in seven games and a thunderbolt from Karlan Grant.
Sheffield United failed to hit a shot on target in the second half, as their six-game unbeaten run came to an end. Chris Wilder’s side stay 17th as a result of their first defeat since November 4.
West Brom keep up sterling home record
Control of the game was traded in the first half, but there were few moments where either side looked capable of capitalising on their momentum.
West Brom have not lost at home since September 13
Sheffield United fashioned the better chances, though. Gustavo Hamer forced a brilliant one-handed save from Joe Wildsmith and 25 minutes later, Patrick Bamford fired straight at the Baggies goalkeeper after Ousmane Diakhite was caught dallying on the edge of his own box.
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Aune Heggebo opens the scoring for West Brom
The hosts hit the front less than five minutes after the restart. Heggebo sent the ball out wide right for George Campbell, timed his run to perfection, then stylishly finished first time from just outside the six-yard box.
That gave West Brom momentum, and just after the hour, they extended their lead. Heggebo teed up Karlan Grant, who appeared to trip Mark McGuinness as he shaped up to arrow a thunderbolt in off the underside of the crossbar.
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Karlan Grant thumps home a second goal for West Brom
Between the 42nd and 79th minute, the Blades did not manage a single shot and though they did eventually rack up four more, with a combined xG value of 0.37, the game was already beyond them.
The managers
West Brom’s Ryan Mason:
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Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
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