Crystal Palace have edged out of the Premier League relegation zone following a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Wilfried Zaha gave the visitors the lead 10 minutes after the break, firing home from 12 yards after taking the ball down on his chest from Yohan Cabaye's cross-field pass.
Andros Townsend then killed the game off in style, showing great stamina to pick the ball up in his own half, maraud into the area and rifle inside near post from 12 yards out.
The result sees Palace climb up to 17th in the table, three points clear of the drop zone after their third win in five games, while West Brom stay eighth, nine points off the top six.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at the Hawthorns.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.
Today's fixture at the Hawthorns sees Tony Pulis face his former club as the Baggies bid to continue their great home record against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Pulis remains in dispute with the Eagles, with lawyers currently going over this issue. On the pitch, however, West Brom will be hoping to get themselves to within one point of seventh-placed Everton and deal Palace another blow in their fight against the drop.
Neither Pulis nor Sam Allardyce have ever been relegated from the Premier League although it's proving too close for comfort for the latter, who will be hoping to do what he did with several other clubs - most notably Sunderland last season - and get Palace to safety, and it can be said that today's fixture, while tricky, is most certainly winnable for the visitors.
Without further ado, let's bring you up to date with the team news from the Hawthorns.
WEST BROM STARTING XI: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom, Livermore, Fletcher, Chadli, Morrison, Brunt, Rondon
PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Townsend, Benteke
WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill, Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Yacob, M Wilson, McClean, Leko
PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Dann, Delaney, McArthur, Schlupp, Sako, Campbell
Pretty simple in terms of team news - no changes for either side. Both WBA and Palace were victorious in their last games, against Bournemouth and Middlesbrough respectively, so neither gaffer sees fit to fix what's not broken.
West Brom winger Matt Phillips was 50/50 over being included today after being a doubt with a hamstring strain, but ultimately he is not risked and so does not make the squad, while Craig Dawson has recovered from a head injury and retains his place at right-back.
No fresh injury concerns for Allardyce, whose absentee list has not changed - Pape Souare, Loic Remy, Mathieu Flamini and Connor Wickham remain injured.
A lot of focus will be on Pulis today. Not only is he facing his old club, not only is this legal dispute still going on, but he's also hit a significant milestone...
Tony Pulis will become just the 12th manager to take charge of 300 @premierleague games today!
Congratulations, gaffer!#WBACRY #WBA pic.twitter.com/P4p0GqpFkr — West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) March 4, 2017
So what exactly is this "dispute" all about? Well, in all fairness, there isn't much we can say, and likewise, the former Eagles boss is tight-lipped about the whole thing. He told reporters: "The lawyers have told me not to say anything, and when the situation is concluded then I will have my say on it. I'll let the lawyers do their work. I'm not so sure the Palace fans will be (different towards me). They can make their own mind up. They were fantastic to me and what has happened off the pitch has been really disappointing, but I can't go into it."
Eagles boss Allardyce has just spoken about today's fixture, so here are his words: "Our performance has to better than last week, given West Brom's form. We need to lift our game to get a result against them. They are very good at set plays and we will have to break down a very solid defence, so a tough task for us at the Hawthorns. Back to back wins would be a tremendous boost for us but for me it's about not losing and getting an undefeated run going. We need to focus on this and make sure we deliver a good performance and ease the pressure on ourselves."
Let's look at both sides' recent league form. West Brom are unbeaten in their last five, with three wins and two draws, and have won five of their last eight. Pretty good form from the Baggies, and they are rightly looking up rather than down. There might even be scope for a late charge for a European place, although with nine points separating them and fifth-placed Liverpool, it's a tall order.
As for Palace, they've lost seven of their last 10 league games, although the slide has been arrested somewhat with two wins in their last four. It's a very tight relegation battle this year, with just five points separating 20th from 15th, so every point counts for the ones caught up in the fight.
Now let's have a look at some stats surrounding the game. One that stands out the most is that West Brom have never lost at home against Palace in the Premier League. Four games have taken place and the Baggies have won two and drawn two.
In fact, the Eagles have only won two of their last 13 league visits to the Hawthorns. Not a happy hunting ground for them then.
Only against one side (Bolton Wanderers, with six games) have WBA faced a team more often at the Hawthorns in the Premier League without losing than Palace (four games).
Tony Pulis managed 26 Premier League games for Crystal Palace between 2013 and 2014, winning 42 per cent of his games (11 of 26), the best ratio of any Palace manager in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce has only won one of his seven Premier League visits to the Hawthorns, a 2-1 victory as West Ham boss in December 2014, while the other results were three defeats and three draws.
West Brom are aiming to do the double over Palace in a top-flight season for the first time since 1980-81.
SCORE PREDICTION: Just over five minutes to go until kickoff at the Hawthorns, so it's time for me to have a go at predicting the score. West Brom are a decent team in good form but Palace are battling hard for every point, so the two should, in theory, cancel each other out - a 1-1 draw, in my humble opinion.
The players have gathered in the tunnel and will be coming out imminently.
Both sets of players are led out of the tunnel by their respective captains - not long to go now!
KICKOFF! Mike Jones is the referee today and he gets the action underway.
Chadli is brought down by Milivojevic 35 yards from goal and Albion have a free kick, Brunt is over it but hits it against Cabaye and the visitors get the ball away.
An open start to this game but not much happening so far. Zaha attempts to get past Dawson, but McAuley helps cover and snuff him out, while at the other end, Chadli slaloms past a few challenges but he is also stifled and it comes to nothing.
Zaha does well on the left-hand side to break free from Dawson and get a cross in, but McAuley is on hand to hack the ball away from inside the six-yard box.
More pressure from Palace as Townsend whips a cross into the box meant for Benteke, but there is a bit too much weight on the delivery and it comes to nothing.
Milivojevic is down after a collision with Dawson, who appeared to hit him with his arm, but just accidental. The Palace man gets up moments later and play continues.
West Brom win a corner and Morrison plays it to the edge of the box for Livermore, who is completely unmarked, but he fails to connect properly and the visitors clear.
Sakho does very well to get the ball out for a corner after Nyom lofted a pinpoint pass from the left towards Rondon at the far post, and from the set piece, Hennessey collects.
OFF THE LINE! Palace win a corner and Cabaye swings it into the path of the unmarked Benteke, who gets a head on it, but Brunt clears the ball off the line with Foster beaten!
Livermore sends a fine diagonal the way of Dawson, but once again Sakho stands firm to snuff the ball's trajectory before it can reach Rondon. Brunt corner misses Chadli by inches and goes out of play.
A Townsend cross is almost met by Zaha, but Dawson judges the weight on the delivery correctly to shield off the winger and allow the ball to run out of play.
Tomkins swings a long ball into the area from a free kick which Evans clears, then Benteke attempts an overhead kick but fouls Morrison in the process, prompting Jones to blow his whistle.
Puncheon slots a pass towards Benteke who nearly gets the better of McAuley in the box, but the defender gets back well to make a challenge and reclaim the ball.
CHANCE! Brunt collects Morrison's pass on the edge of the box and attempts a volley, but the effort sails over the bar.
We have a break in play as Evans is bleeding after a clash of heads with Benteke, so he goes to the sideline and gets himself patched up.
PENALTY SHOUT! Referee Jones waves away appeals for a penalty after Rondon gets in between Cabaye and Ward before going down inside the Palace area. Replays suggest that the West Brom man had dived.
Not long to go until half time and the action has petered out somewhat, not much to report on. Still goalless.
Another brief stoppage in play as Evans and Benteke clash heads for the second time in this match, but it looks as if both of them are fine to continue.
Just one minute of stoppage time to be played at the Hawthorns.
BOOKING: Benteke is shown a yellow for dissent after a foul is given against him.
HALF TIME: WEST BROM 0-0 PALACE
Half time and it remains goalless between West Brom and Palace. Despite the stalemate it's had a couple of moments - Benteke's header cleared off the line, Rondon's penalty appeal waved away, and the ongoing duel between Evans and Benteke. All to play for in the second 45 minutes.
Both sets of defences have been very switched on - Sakho in particular has been very impressive for Palace, snuffing out a number of opportunities that were on the verge of being gilt-edged were it not for his interventions.
Now for a detailed breakdown of the stats. West Brom have had four shots in total, though none of these were on target, completed 105 passes at 70 percent accuracy, enjoyed 44 percent possession, won three corners, conceded four fouls, and had no offsides.
Palace, meanwhile, have had two shots, one of which was on target, completed 140 passes at 75 percent accuracy, enjoyed 56 percent possession, won two corners, conceded eight fouls, and like West Brom, no offsides.
So neither goalkeeper really tested in the first half, with Palace just about on top in terms of possession, concrete chances, passes and so on, but it remains goalless at the break. Will the full-time whistle show the same scoreline, or will there be any goals in the next 45? Stick with Sports Mole and you'll find out as the action unfolds.
KICKOFF: Back underway at the Hawthorns as Palace kick off the second half.
Townsend whips a cross into the box intended for Zaha but Dawson just about gets to it and clears under pressure from Benteke.
Dawson's cross from the right very nearly finds Rondon, but Tomkins gets just ahead of him and snuffs the danger out.
CHANCE! Palace are nearly caught out as Brunt's corner finds an unmarked Chadli in the centre of the box, but Puncheon puts him under pressure and the ensuing effort is skied over the bar.
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (WILFRIED ZAHA)
We have the breakthrough at the Hawthorns and it goes the way of the visitors! A long ball over the top from Cabaye is brought down by Zaha, who gets it beyond Brunt before drilling a vicious left-footed shot past Foster and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net!
Chadli gets a yard of space around 25 yards out and has a go but sees his effort deflected into the hands of Hennessey.
CHANCE! Nearly a second for Palace as Zaha runs from inside his half into the box, but Foster charges him down, before Puncheon gets to the ball and has a shot but sees it deflected wide!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Van Aanholt is down after a collision with his own player while shooting on the edge of the box, and has to be stretchered off. Schlupp comes on in his place, while West Brom also make a switch as Chadli comes off and McClean comes on.
Brunt's delivery on his weak foot nearly catches out Hennessey, who fails to get a grip on the floated cross with Livermore lurking, but the Palace defence bails him out.
A corner breaks to Townsend on the edge of the box and he opts for a snapshot towards goal but McClean puts his body on the line to deflect the effort over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: West Brom make their second change of the day as Nyom makes way for Robson-Kanu.
SUBSTITUTION: Now Palace make a switch, with Cabaye replaced by Dann.
West Brom win a free kick in a dangerous position which Brunt takes, but it bypasses everyone and Hennessey can claim. In the meantime Evans has to go off the pitch briefly to get another shirt as he's still bleeding from that earlier clash of heads.
A brief moment of comic relief as referee Jones gets knocked to the floor after an accidental bump from Livermore.
Foster keeps West Brom in the match by saving from Townsend, who was one-on-one following a fantastic through-ball from Milivojevic.
SUBSTITUTION: Final change of the day from West Brom as Fletcher makes way for 17-year-old Leko.
GOAL! WEST BROM 0-2 PALACE (ANDROS TOWNSEND)
Palace put themselves on the brink of victory at the Hawthorns courtesy of a second goal against West Brom, and what a corker that was from Townsend! He gets the ball in the middle of the park after dispossessing Leko and paces into the box after shrugging off a number of opposition defenders before rifling home from 12 yards!
SUBSTITUTION: McArthur comes on for Zaha as Palace look to see out the match.
Townsend comes forward again, but chooses to go for the corner and waste time, while in the stands, many West Brom fans are heading for the exits.
Five minutes of stoppage time to played.
FULL TIME: WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
The final whistle is blown at the Hawthorns and Crystal Palace are now three points clear of the bottom three thanks to a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, courtesy of goals from Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend. Back-to-back wins, back-to-back clean sheets, and it looks like Sam Allardyce may be well on the way in terms of retaining his record of never being relegated from the Premier League.
That's all we have time for here but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you match reports, reaction and all the latest news from the day's football. Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
