West Bromwich Albion 1-2 West Ham United

James Tomkins last scored for West Ham in October 2012

• West Brom end 323-minute league drought

• Albion had not found the net since 1 November

• Nolan and Tomkins strike back for Hammers

• Allardyce's side strengthen grip on fifth spot

West Ham centre-back James Tomkins' first goal in two years sent struggling West Brom to a fourth straight defeat.

Craig Dawson ended Albion's 323-minute Premier League goal drought when he glanced in Graham Dorrans' free-kick.

But Kevin Nolan nodded in to equalise after keeper Ben Foster had pushed out Andy Carroll's overhead kick.

And Tomkins increased the pressure on West Brom boss Alan Irvine by heading in Stewart Downing's corner in first-half stoppage time.

Victory strengthened West Ham's grip on fifth place, and the jubilant fans greeted the final whistle with chants of: "We're going to win the league."

By contrast, West Brom are slipping towards the relegation zone, having managed just one home league win all season.

It was another setback for Irvine, who said he was hurt by criticism from Albion's fans after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

The West Brom head coach's decision to recall Victor Anichebe paid early dividends when the former Everton striker won the free-kick that put the home side in front.

After Anichebe was pulled down by Tomkins, Dawson escaped his marker to glance in Dorrans' left-wing delivery from six yards - Albion's first goal in four matches.

But, having wobbled in the opening 15 minutes, West Ham took control and were deservedly in front by half-time.

Kevin Nolan and Cheikhou Kouyate had already been denied by keeper Ben Foster in a goalmouth scramble before the visitors found an equaliser.

Tomkins headed Downing's free-kick across goal, and Carroll met Dawson's clearance with an overhead kick that Foster pushed out, with Nolan nodding in the rebound from two yards.

Albion captain Chris Brunt hobbled off in first-half stoppage time, and as the home side reorganised, Tomkins headed in from Downing's corner to make it 2-1.

The home side had the better of the second half, and Dawson should have equalised soon after the break, driving wide from 15 yards.

But West Brom's pressure could not produce an equaliser, despite Anichebe's best efforts.

The striker escaped Winston Reid to fire in an effort from a tight angle that Adrian beat out at the near post, then nearly equalised in the closing minutes with a shot on the turn, but the West Ham keeper blocked with his legs.

West Brom head coach Alan Irvine: "We were very much on the front foot. Then we made a couple of mistakes and everyone got nervous. But I've never known a second half as one-sided as that.

"We'll try to reinforce the positives as much as possible. You can't dwell too long on the negatives, and you can't keep criticising people when they need support to help them."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "It was a tremendous recovery after we went 1-0 down. It was a great, great away win for us.

"If we can have a good Christmas, then we'll have a look at what we can achieve over the second half of the season. I'm hoping we'll get Mark Noble and Alex Song back from injury for the weekend, and that wil give me the selection headache I want."

Craig Dawson scored West Brom's first league goal since 1 November

Kevin Nolan scored for the first time since February

West Brom captain Chris Brunt - booked for a foul on Kevin Nolan - hobbled off just before West Ham's winner

James Tomkins struck in the third minute of first-half stoppage time