West Bromwich Albion started life after Steve Clarke by playing out a 1-1 draw with Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Hull were in control for long periods of the game and they took the lead in the first half when Jake Livermore finished off a counter attack with a calm finish.
It looked like West Brom would suffer a fifth defeat in a row but Matej Vydra came off the bench to earn a point for his team in the 86th minute.
Read below to find out how the drama unfolded.
Good afternoon everyone. West Brom begin life after Steve Clarke today by hosting Hull City. These two teams are very evenly matched, so we're in for an interesting afternoon.
There's been plenty of debate around Clarke's departure from the club. At times it seemed like the Scot was making good progress but the team's form in 2013 has been very poor. Who will be his replacement? Caretaker manager Keith Downing takes charge today.
The Baggies haven't won in their last six games, losing the previous three in the league. They're just two points above the relegation zone, so there's plenty of fans sweating over the team's current form.
Hull have struggled on the road this season but they'll be confident of picking up something from this game as they look to take advantage of West Brom's difficult situation. Steve Bruce is building a good team but they must find some form away from home.
If Swansea City and Aston Villa fail to win this weekend and Hull record a victory today, they'll be 10th in the Premier League at Christmas. I'm sure very few people could have predicted that at the start of the season.
Remember, you can follow any other of this afternoon's Premier League games by clicking the links in the table on the right of the page. Full team news from this match coming shortly.
HULL CITY: McGregor, Chester, Bruce, Davies, Elmohamady, Figueroa, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Sagbo, Graham
SUBSTITUTES: Harper, Rosenior, Koren, Fryatt, McShane, Boyd, Faye
WEST BROM: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Morrison, Brunt, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, Long, Sinclair
SUBSTITUTES: Myhill), Yacob, Lugano, Amalfitano, Vydra, Gera, Berahino
The good news for West Brom is that Ben Foster plays for the first time since injuring his foot in August and he replaces Boaz Myhill. Downing also brings in James Morrison and Scott Sinclair, with Morgan Amalfitano and Claudio Yacob dropping to the bench.
Bruce has named the same team which drew with Stoke City last weekend. There were doubts about Alex Bruce's fitness but he's recovered from a groin problem to keep his place in defence.
Bruce tells the club's official website: "We've done well over the last few weeks, and that's the thinking behind keeping the same line-up. Let's hope we can go out there today, score a few goals, and take home three points."
Foster's return is a huge boost for West Brom. The former Manchester United goalkeeper will be targeting a place in the England team and if he finds his best form, the pressure on Joe Hart will increase.
The big problem for West Brom seems to be goals. They've scored just 17 times this season and seem to be paying the punishment for not replacing Romelu Lukaku, who was superb during his loan spell in the last campaign.
As we all know, no team is too good to be relegated from the Premier League. West Brom need to pick up points over the festive period.
One result is in already. Luis Suarez struck twice in Liverpool's win over Cardiff City. West Brom can climb above Cardiff with a win this afternoon.
Play is just over 15 minutes away. The ground is filling up nicely and the players are heading inside for one more pep talk.
It's a bit of a cliche but it feels like the first goal will be crucial today. Both of these teams have struggled to score this season, so one goal could win this one.
PREDICTION: As I've mentioned in the previous post, I'm expecting a tight match today so the prediction is a 1-1 draw.
The players are out on the pitch and the handshakes are finished. We're just moments away from the action.
Hull get the game underway.
West Brom have started pretty well in front of their own supporters. Sinclair and Sessegnon is offering good support for Long. The only threat has come from long balls forward, though.
Liam Ridgewell does superbly well on the left to win a corner. Brunt whips in a good cross, which Olsson meets but Sagbo clears the danger.
Brunt is definitely playing slightly deeper than we've seen from him in the past. The Baggies will benefit from his range of passing alongside Morrison in that area of the pitch.
Hull are starting to see more of the ball now and they threaten on the left when Elmohamady earns some space before seeing his cross deflected behind for a corner.
CLOSE! Huddlestone takes the corner for the visitors and he finds Chester, who heads over from a good position. That's a good opportunity missed by Hull.
There's a stoppage in play for a few moments as Danny Graham struggles to recover from a Billy Jones tackle. Steve Bruce will be desperate for the forward to continue.
West Brom have been sloppy in possession when they've got forward in the early stages. Jones and Mulumbu create a good opening but a poor pass sees a promising move break down.
Graham has been able to continue following that awkward challenge with Jones. Ridgewell is forced off the pitch for a few moments to change his shirt after suffering a nose bleed.
Jones slices open the Hull defence with a clever pass but McGregor reacts quickly to deny Long an opportunity to unleash a shot from inside the box. Excellent goalkeeping.
We've just not seen enough quality in the final third of the pitch in the first half. Livermore is gifted some space on the wing but his cross is poor and Foster collects the ball.
Much better from Hull and Livermore as the on-loan midfielder picks out Meyler, who fails to control the pass and invites Foster to rush off his line to gather the ball once again.
Hull win a free kick in a good position and Huddlestone runs over to deliver a ball into the box. However, the whistle is blown as soon as the free kick is taken due to some pushing from Hull players in the area.
Poor from Figueroa. The visitors produce a good passing move, with the full back given plenty of space on the wing. He fails to look up, though and Livermore cannot control the pass which is directed behind him.
West Brom are inches away from a very good opportunity when Long plays a diagonal over the visiting defence. It looks like Sinclair will have a chance but he can't stretch far enough to control the pass.
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-1 HULL (LIVERMORE)
Hull break the deadlock! West Brom are applying the pressure but the move breaks down and the visitors counter quickly. Meyler hits an excellent pass to Graham, who runs towards goal before sliding a pass to Livermore. The midfielder converts from a tight angle after sprinting from one box to the other to finish a great move.
It almost gets worse for Keith Downing's side when Long goes down after colliding with Curtis Davies. The forward is off the field for a few moments but it looks like he'll be able to play on.
The Hawthorns has been pretty flat today but the crowd have come alive since seeing their side fall behind. Can West Brom respond before the break?
Hull's confidence is growing now as Figueroa combines with Graham to create an opening for Meyler, whose deflected effort goes behind for a corner. The hosts manage to clear the danger from the set piece.
Hull are put on the back foot when the hosts win a free kick and corner in the space of a few seconds. Brunt's corner is a good one but the visitors are awarded a free kick for a foul on Huddlestone inside the box.
YELLOW CARD! Meyler is the first player cautioned after chopping down Mulumbu in midfield. He got a foot on the ball but it was an awkward way to challenge the West Brom ace.
West Brom are starting to cause a few more problems but Hull are sticking to their task impressively. Sinclair threatens to break through on goal following a clever pass from Long but Chester stays with his man to clear the ball.
Hull have a chance to create a chance on the break again when Mulumbu gifts possession to Sagbo but the forward fails to take advantage and the promising move breaks down.
Brunt whips in a cross, which finds its way to Morrison on the edge of the box. The midfielder is usually good from that kind of position but his effort is poor on this occasion and the ball sails over the crossbar.
Brunt is frustrated, as are the home supporters, when the midfielder hits the first man with a free kick from a good position. It's not been a great first half for Brunt. Two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
The Baggies are applying the pressure at the end of the first half but they're still struggling to make the right decision in the final third of the pitch.
HALF-TIME: WEST BROM 0-1 HULL
It's certainly not been a classic but Hull definitely will not mind. Livermore has given the visitors a crucial lead at the break. West Brom have struggled to break down the Hull defence, so Keith Downing may have to change things at half time.
Hull don't concede many goals, so they'll be confident at the halfway point this afternoon. They've not been at their best, though. Graham has linked up with the midfielders impressively but he's barely had a sight of the goal. Hull need to stay positive after the break.
Sinclair and Sessegnon have struggled to make an impact in the first half, which might encourage Downing to send on Saido Berahino. The young forward has impressed many this season and his direct approach could be what West Brom need to find an equaliser.
There were a few jeers around the ground when the whistle was blown at the end of the first half. The West Brom fans are used to seeing more from their team at home. It's not been good enough so far today.
There will be a change for the hosts before the second half begins. It is Berahino who is preparing to come on. It's not clear who he will be replacing yet.
SUBSTITUTION: It's Sinclair who makes way for Berahino following a difficult first half for the winger.
The referee gets the game back underway.
It looks like the hosts have switched to a 4-4-2. Brunt appears to have moved out to the wing, with Berahino playing in a central position alongside Long.
Davies has been superb this season and he's leading by example again today as Brunt's cross is stopped by the defender. You can't help but be impressed with his form for Hull.
Berahino's introduction has certainly helped the hosts and the home crowd have responded, too. Brunt whips in another cross from the wing but Long cannot win the aerial battle with Davies.
West Brom struggle to deal with a long ball forward. Graham threatens to break through on goal but Olsson does just enough to make the clearance at the crucial moment.
SAVE! Good effort from Berahino on the edge of the box but McGregor responds well to push the ball to safety.
A corner breaks loose to Mulumbu, who targets the top corner with a volley from inside the area. However, Davies steps in once again to make a crucial clearance with his header. Superb defending.
SHOT! West Brom are improving with every passing minute as Hull drop deeper. Long picks up the ball on the left and cuts inside to fire an effort over the crossbar. There's a few questions asked by his teammates but he had every right to shoot from that position.
The Baggies win another corner, which Brunt curls into the box. McAuley rises to meet the ball but his header is easily saved by McGregor.
Hull enjoy a good spell but they waste their first attack of the second half. Graham collects the ball and finds Meyler, who slips over before he can unleash a shot. The West Brom supporters enjoyed that one.
Long is frustrated with himself when he makes a good run to reach Ridgewell's pass but the forward's touch is poor and the ball goes out for a goal kick. West Brom have been much better after the break but they're not creating enough chances.
YELLOW CARD! Jones is booked by the referee for a late challenge on Figueroa. No arguments from the defender.
SAVES! Brilliant from Foster. Huddlestone unleashes a powerful shot but the West Brom goalkeeper reacts superbly to push the ball away. Hull keep the pressure on, though and Foster is forced into another save just moments later when Elmohamady targets the bottom corner. That's why West Brom supporters are so happy to have him back.
SUBSTITUTION: Downing makes another change as Matej Vydra comes on to replace Sessegnon.
Hull have stepped it up the last few minutes. It's the visitors who are looking in control again as they push the hosts back with some good pressure.
Groan around The Hawthorns when a free kick is taken short to Morrison, who sends a long range effort into the stands. Very poor from the midfielder.
Brunt fires in another corner and Berahino meets the cross with a glancing header that goes well wide of the target. Another chance missed by the hosts.
Hull have been absolutely superb at the back this afternoon. Alex Bruce has been brilliant in keeping Long quiet and Davies has once again impressed with another faultless display.
Morrison makes a mistake and his sloppy pass puts pressure on Foster, who clears the danger under pressure from Meyler. The Baggies cannot afford to make an error like that at this stage.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Zoltan Gera is off the bench to replace Ridgewell as the Baggies push for a point. Steve Bruce also makes a change as Graham makes way for George Boyd.
Plenty of concern from the home supporters as the game enters the closing stages. West Brom have had a few chances but they've struggled to compete with the stubborn Hull defence.
A poor touch from Mulumbu in a good position sends the ball out of play. The midfielder is frustrated, Keith Downing looks down at the ground and the West Brom supporters groan, again.
GOAL! WEST BROM 1-1 HULL (VYDRA)
No more groans from the West Brom supporters! It looks like they've secured a point in the closing stages. Two substitutes combine as Gera plays a perfect pass to Vydra, who slots the ball past McGregor. That's his first goal for the club.
Hull have been shocked by that goal. They can't lose focus now, or they'll risk heading back home without any points.
YELLOW CARD! Gera is the next player to go into the book when he hauls down Figueroa.
SUBSTITUTION: Positive response to the goal from Steve Bruce as he sends on Matty Fryatt to replace Sagbo.
CLOSE! Huddlestone is inches away from winning the game for the visitors. The former Spurs midfielder fires a free kick towards the top corner but the ball curls away at the last minute to the relief of the home fans.
The fourth official confirms that there will be three minutes added on.
Both teams are trying to create a chance in the closing moments of the game but it looks like they'll have to settle for a point each.
FULL-TIME: WEST BROM 1-1 HULL
It's all over. West Brom have avoided another loss thanks to Vydra's late goal. It wasn't a great afternoon for the hosts, who struggled against an impressive Hull team but they'll happily take a draw.
Steve Bruce may think that his side should have earned all three points but this certainly isn't a bad result for a team that has struggled away from home this season. The display from the visiting defence will certainly please Bruce.
That's all from me today. Thanks for joining me for coverage of this match but make sure you stay on the site as we bring you analysis and reaction from all of today's games. Goodbye.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
