Hull City 0-2 West Bromwich Albion: Karlan Grant double gives Baggies first win under Steve Bruce
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Karlan Grant's 12th goal of the season from the penalty spot puts him joint eighth in this season's Championship top scorer charts
Two goals from Karlan Grant ended West Bromwich Albion's awful run of form to give Steve Bruce his first win as Baggies boss against his former club Hull City.
Top scorer Grant flicked home Alex Mowatt's fine cross to give Albion the lead as the visitors bossed the first half at the MKM Stadium.
Grant then made it two from the penalty spot early in the second half after Taylor Gardner-Hickman had been brought down by Jacob Greaves.
Hull never really offered any sustained pressure, with Keane Lewis-Potter and Tom Eaves unable to make the most of decent chances.
With skipper Jake Livermore crucially back for Albion after his four-game ban alongside recalled youngster Gardner-Hickman in midfield, the Baggies ended their wretched run of six straight away defeats to breathe life into their fading play-off challenge.
But, although still in the Championship bottom half, in 13th, they are only six points outside the play-offs going into next Friday night's home clash with another of Bruce's old clubs, automatic promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town.
Albion's fifth successive win over Hull was the Tigers' fourth successive loss at home without scoring and a fifth in eight overall - and right from the outset it looked about being a case of whether the visitors, who had left out target man Andy Carroll to deploy a 3-5-2 system, could take their chances.
Conor Townsend headed wide from fellow wing-back Darnell Furlong's early right-wing cross and then aimed another header too close to home keeper Matt Ingram, who also saved from Grant.
But Albion's pressure told on 17 minutes when Grant, who got the winner in this season's first meeting between the sides in November, produced a tidy finish to slot in Mowatt's excellent ball from the right.
Grant went close again as the half wore on but nodded over Townsend's pinpoint cross.
Hull, whose win over Peterborough in their last match was their first in seven games, then enjoyed their best period with Lewis-Potter twice going close. First he lashed over the bar from close range before seeing a goal-bound effort from just outside the box blocked away.
But all Hull's momentum faded early in the second half when Gardner-Hickman was bundled over in the box by Greaves - and Grant sent Ingram the wrong way from the spot.
The Tigers did their best to rally, as Greaves' stinging effort was tipped around the post by Sam Johnstone before Eaves had a number of half chances - heading wide a Brandon Fleming centre before hitting one effort wide and seeing another blocked away.
Grant had a late chance to make it a hat-trick but could not match the quality of Grady Diangana's through ball with a finish.
But that will not take the gloss off a much-needed improvement from Bruce's side, who tripled their goal return under their new boss and will still believe a run into the play-off places is still possible.
Hull City manager Shota Arveladze told BBC Radio Humberside:
"We stayed in the game and the second goal kills it a little bit.
"We didn't create many good chances, maybe one or two, but not enough in the second half - no shots on goal.
"It makes us a little bit sad but I still see many positive things and I believe we'll make the fans happy again."
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce told BBC Radio WM:
"I'm pleased for everyone - it's been a long wait and it's been a difficult month. I would've hoped I'd have had a better reaction than it's been, but it's a start.
"The first half hour was the best we've played since I've been at the club and when the penalty went it we were always in control of the match.
"We've still got a lot to improve on but we're up and running. Let's see if we can make a charge."