Luton Town 2-0 West Bromwich Albion: Steve Bruce still searching for first win after Hatters defeat

Cameron Jerome headed past Sam Johnstone to score Luton's opener

Luton moved above West Bromwich Albion in the Championship table with a victory that leaves the Baggies still looking for their first win under Steve Bruce.

Albion were on top in the first half with Andy Carroll forcing Hatters goalkeeper Jed Steer into a series of saves.

But they were punished after 55 minutes when Cameron Jerome powered home a header from Kal Naismith's free kick.

Allan Campbell's drive from the edge of the box wrapped up the win seven minutes from time to leave West Brom without a win or a goal in five games.

Victory sees Luton climb to eighth in the table with West Brom dropping to 11th, four points outside the playoff places.

Sam Johnstone was called into action after six minutes when Admiral Muskwe flicked Tom Lockyer's cross towards goal but the Baggies keeper saved comfortably.

For the rest of the half it was largely West Brom knocking on the door with Carroll testing Steer on several occasions and Alex Mowatt firing over.

They went closest to scoring five minutes before the break when Karlan Grant's lobbed effort came back off the bar and Carroll's follow-up was saved.

Luton hit the woodwork two minutes later when Jerome was played through on goal but saw his shot come back off the post as it remained goalless at half-time.

West Brom had 12 first-half shots to Luton's four and were made to pay for their missed chances when Jerome headed home Naismith's free-kick 10 minutes into the second half.

The Baggies were less of a threat in the second half and Campbell doubled the lead after 83 minutes, firing a powerful shot past Johnstone to wrap up the points.

West Brom have not scored a league goal since 22 January and have lost by a 2-0 scoreline in four out of their last five games, with the other game a goalless draw with Blackburn.

Luton boss Nathan Jones:

"Three points, a clean sheet, they've hit the bar twice, but I wouldn't say we rode our luck as we hit the post and missed a glorious chance in the first half.

"We gifted them a little bit first half but then apart from that, I thought we were excellent. We limited them to very little, especially second half, and we know we're a difficult side to play against here.

"If we can really just settle down and get that head of steam then we can create something and I thought we did and I'm really happy with both goals."

Baggies manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM:

"Well it's not acceptable and I won't accept that. The way we just fell apart was just blatantly obvious for everybody and to the travelling supporters I can only say that I apologise and I will do my utmost to make sure that it doesn't happen.

"We were nowhere near the response I would like especially when we went a goal down. Yes we're on a bad run and confidence is low, I can understand that but we have to have a better reaction, as soon as they scored really we just huffed and puffed and didn't do enough like we did in the first half to impose ourselves against difficult opposition.

"We didn't do enough second half. I can't apologise enough to them (supporters) because if there's anything that disappoints me as a team of mine its falling away the way it did.

"We were better in the first half, I'm really disappointed in the second. I'm hoping we've bottomed it out. I'm looking for a response and looking at other people to freshen it up and give someone else a chance."