Match Report:WBA 1-1 Newcastle

Newcastle held on for a 1-1 draw in a nervy second half at West Bromwich Albion to boost their chances of Premier League survival.
Defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland last weekend dragged Newcastle back into the scrap to avoid the drop into the Championship. It looked like it had taken its toll in the opening stages as the Magpies started slowly in the Spring sunshine. However, they suddenly burst into life on eight minutes when Papiss Cisse's deflected cross bemused Ben Foster and Yoan Gouffran was able to glance into the net from six yards. The goal seemed to fill the visitors with confidence as they went in search of a second and chances continued to come and go for Cisse as he failed to put the game beyond a West Brom side who had simply not got going. The best of which was a gift from the Baggies defence as they gave the ball to Cisse on the edge of the box but the Senegalese striker failed to find the corner when he had just Foster to beat. Those chances would later come back to haunt them as Steve Clarke made a change at the break and it almost paid immediate dividends with substitute Shane Long bringing a superb double save from Rob Elliot just seconds into the second period. Just after the hour mark West Brom finally managed to peg them back as Romelu Lukaku held off Steven Taylor and laid the ball into the path of Billy Jones who drilled it into the far corner. West Brom continued to press and Newcastle had both Rob Elliot and had their hosts' wastefulness in front of goal to thank as they withstood attack after attack to hold on for what could prove to be a vital point come the end of the season.

Match Report: Arsenal 2-0 West Brom

Mikel Arteta converted two penalties to ensure Arsenal took all three points against West Brom, who have now lost three games in a row.The Baggies were forced into an early change when Liam Ridgewell went off injured after five minutes and didn't really get going in the first half.Arsenal dominated possession and chances but went ahead thanks to a questionable penalty decision. Santi Cazorla went down in the area, seemingly under the challenge of Chris Brunt, but replays showed there was no contact.However, the referee pointed to the spot and Arteta calmly dispatched the penalty to give the Gunners the lead after 26 minutes.Arsenal spurned further chances to go ahead. Gervinho saw a shot well saved by Boaz Myhill but was guilty of wasting a number of good opportunities, while Cazorla skewed an effort over the bar and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's overhead kick was way off-target.Gervinho continued in the same vein in the second half, failing to show enough strength in front of goal and being outmuscled by Gareth McAuley.
The lead was doubled midway through the second period, with a second penalty awarded after Oxlade-Chamberlain was upended by Brunt. Arteta once again stepped up and in a carbon copy of the first penalty went down the middle with Myhill beaten.Arsenal were well on top, with Jack Wilshere directing the midfield, but couldn't add to their tally. Olivier Giroud headed over from close range, Arteta hit a free-kick just wide and substitute Lukas Podolski somehow contrived to miss in injury time when completely unmarked in the area, scooping the ball over the bar.
Arsene Wenger will be relieved to have secured the three points but will be concerned by his side's failure to convert numerous chances, while West Brom's slump continues.

Lukaku joins WBA on loan

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has completed a season-long loan move to West Brom.The Baggies won the race for the 19-year-old Belgium star, who had been linked with a number of clubs, including Fulham. Lukaku, who joined Chelsea for £18million last summer, will work under former Blues assistant manager Steve Clarke.Boyhood Chelsea fan Lukaku struggled to break into the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge last season and was prevented from being loaned out under FIFA rules, having already played for Anderlecht.Clarke, who was appointed to his first managerial post this summer, told his club's official website, www.wba.co.uk: "I'm delighted to welcome Romelu to the club. He's a strong, powerful centre-forward who is young, enthusiastic and eager to learn. He was also desperate to come here."Romelu had a lot of Europe's top clubs chasing him when he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht for big money a year ago and also had several Premier League teams wanting to take him on loan this summer, so we've done well to get him."With the calibre of strikers Chelsea have got, he's found it difficult to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge. But he's had a season working at a top Premier League club and he now needs more minutes on the pitch. We're more than happy for Romelu to continue his development with us. I am sure he will be a big help to the squad over the course of the season."

Manchester City 4-0 West Bromwich Albion

Manchester City regained hope in the Premier League title race after closing the gap on Manchester United to five points. Carlos Tevez and David Silva added to Sergio Aguero's double as Roberto Mancini's side eased past West Brom to record their first win in three games, while league leaders United were beaten 1-0 at Wigan. The title race seemed as good as over before kick-off but the home side made a bright start to the match with Aguero firing in from 25 yards after just six minutes. City came flying out of the traps but it was an otherwise slow first-half with the only other opportunity falling to Micah Richards who rounded he keeper before his shot seemed to be blocked by the arm of Craig Dawson on its way in. It was a subdued atmosphere inside the Etihad Stadium and this was represented in the performance on the pitch. This changed after 50 minutes however when news of a Wigan goal against Manchester United filtered through and Mancini's side doubled their lead through Aguero's neat finish from close range. The home crowd sensed another turning point in the season and Eastlands was rocking as Samir Nasri almost made it three with a left-footed strike moments later. City didn't have to wait long to extend their lead as Tevez marked his first start since September with a goal, easing Aguero's cross home from six-yards. Silva found the back of the net for the first time in over four months when he delightfully chipped Ben Foster from inside the box to round off a fine evening for the City faithful. Jonas Olsson should have pulled back a consolation goal for West Brom when he headed a corner over from a glorious position, but the Baggies came into the fixture having virtually ensured safety with a win over Blackburn on Saturday and seemed relaxed all evening. The evening's results puts the pressure back on United who suddenly look less comfortable at the top of the Premier League and still have to travel to Eastlands to play Manchester City on April 30.

Arsenal linked with Baggies forward

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly considering a summer swoop for West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie. The Nigerian striker has been in sparkling form this season with 10 goals to date and the Daily Mail claims Wenger could be set to reignite his interest in the forward. The Arsenal boss is believed to have failed with an £8million move in the summer, but the Frenchman could be set to test West Brom's resolve yet again. However, Wenger has also been heavily tipped to snap up German international striker Lukas Podolski at the end of the current campaign and it remains to be seen whether or not he will launch a raid for Odemwingie if he is successful in his bid for the Cologne frontman. The 30-year-old forward snubbed a move to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in January and is tied down to a long-term deal at the Hawthorns, meaning Arsenal may miss out on Odemwingie even if they do make a concrete offer at the end of the season.

Match Report: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Peter Odemwingie was on the scoresheet as West Brom moved out of the relegation zone with a derby win over Wolves. Mick McCarthy's side made a positive start to the game with Adam Hammill coming close early on. He forced a decent save out of Ben Foster inside two minutes before Kevin Doyle saw a penalty appeal turned down by referee Chris Foy. But moments later they were made to pay. A lapse in concentration at the back allowed Premier League debutant Billy Jones to reach the byline and his cut back was side-footed into the roof of the net by Chris Brunt. The goal came against the run of play and Wolves almost found an immediate equaliser when Nenad Milijas' shot was blocked off the line but, for all of their possession, Wolves created little more in front of goal. The Baggies looked dangerous on the break and almost had their second before half-time but for an incredible last ditch challenge from Stephen Ward to deny Shane Long in a goalscoring position. Roger Johnson could have been given his marching orders after the restart when he brought down Long as the last man but the referee thought the skipper got enough of the ball. Hammill then came close again for Wolves as his shot was again saved by Foster. The hosts always looked the most likely to get the all-important second goal and Brunt was denied his second of the game by Wayne Hennessey on the hour mark. Jonas Olsson saw his shouts for a penalty turned down when he was wrestled by Christophe Berra in the build-up to a Baggies corner. Johnson should have equalised for Wolves when he steered a free header wide from six-yards and it was clear it was not going to be their day when substitute Odemwingie doubled the scoreline on the 76th minute. Paul Scharner set up the opportunity with a neat back-heel and the Nigerian clinically finished from 18-yards. It is Roy Hodgson's first win over Wolves at the sixth attempt and moves the Baggies up to 11th in the table. Wolves meanwhile are in free fall after sinking to their fifth successive defeat and hover above the drop zone.

Match Report: WBA 1 Manchester United 2

A late own goal spared goalkeeper David de Gea's blushes as Manchester United began their defence of the Premier League title with victory at West Brom. Wayne Rooney scored early on when he combined with Fabio and Ashley Young to drill in a low effort. Shane Long equalised on his competitive debut for West Brom when his tame effort crept under the body of De Gea. United grabbed the winner when Young's cross from the left took a deflection off Steven Reid and beat Ben Foster. In the end luck was on the side of United, who had dominated for much of the first half but seemed devoid of bright ideas after the break. Had Reid not put through his own net then De Gea's error would have been highlighted on Monday's back pages, although it is unlikely his moment to forget will pass without comment. In the past Ferguson's Achilles heel has been the man wearing the number one jersey and on Sunday De Gea may have made his manager consider whether he was right to throw the 20-year-old straight into the first team. Other young players such as Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have been loaned out to gain experience before being handed their first-team opportunity, but Ferguson had no hesitation in giving the £18m summer signing his league debut. Rooney opens the scoring early on The Spanish stopper looked impressive when he took up a good position and then stayed on his feet to palm away a fierce strike from Paul Scharner. However, he appeared weak when balls were floated into the area. Yet it was not a teasing cross that outfoxed De Gea for the West Brom goal but a weak strike that drifted under his body. Up until the equaliser, United were in control and some fans must have been wondering how many the champions would score after Rooney drilled home in the 13th minute. The England striker linked with up with Fabio and Young before shifting inside the area and firing low into Foster's bottom left corner. United produced some controlled pinball in and around the penalty area. Nani, Rooney and Danny Welbeck knocked one-touch passes between themselves before Nani scooped over. Moments later, the Portugal international fired over again when former United keeper Foster failed to deal with a cross. The visitors' setup was upset after the break when centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand were forced to come off with injuries. The average age of the starting XI was 23.9 years and that was lowered when Jonny Evans and Phil Jones came on as replacements. It was lucky for the pair that only Long's movement and Somen Tchoyi's crossing raised their heartrates during the second half. At the other end, United replaced Welbeck with experienced striker Dimitar Berbatov, hoping that a moment of Bulgarian magic would gift them victory. But as it was, it was a moment of good fortune which gave the champions the perfect start.