Bristol City 0-2 West Bromwich Albion: Baggies continue good run under Carlos Corberan

Matt Phillips' only previous goal this season came in a 2-0 win at Reading in October

Improving West Bromwich Albion made it six wins in eight games under boss Carlos Corberan as they scored a goal in each half to beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Matt Phillips was sent clear down the left to fire in a ninth-minute opener.

Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante then came off the bench to score the second with a sublime left-foot chip on the run, just 11 minutes after coming on for Daryl Dike.

Coming on the back of their dramatic midweek stoppage-time setback at Coventry in the final Championship game before Christmas, the victory came in Albion's 105th Boxing Day fixture - more than any other side in Football League history.

Albion, who were in the Championship relegation zone when Corberan came in, moved up to 12th, although they did drop a place to 13th by the the end of the night, after Luton Town's win over Norwich City in the evening game.

Relive the Boxing Day EFL action

It was a first defeat in four games for former Albion assistant manager Nigel Pearson's City, who now stand 18th in the Championship - five points behind the Baggies.

The Robins had won this season's first meeting at The Hawthorns in mid-October, when the Baggies were under caretaker management following the sacking of Steve Bruce.

But it took just nine minutes to shatter any illusions that the hosts might complete a first league double over Albion since 1905-06.

The hosts were carved open when Conor Townsend's angled pass from the left sent Phillips clear and he ran on to fire home low left-footed for only his second goal of the season.

Victory was sealed on 75 minutes with a beautifully worked second Albion goal.

Tom Rogic played a neat pass down the inside-left channel, and Thomas-Asante ran on to coolly chip the keeper beautifully with an exquisite left-foot finish from 25 yards.

City's first Boxing Day home defeat since 1962 also had some home fans calling for Pearson's dismissal.

But, despite the killer second goal provoking boos and chants of "We want Pearson out" the 59-year-old former Carlisle United, Southampton, Leicester City, Hull City, Derby County, Leuven and Watford boss insists that, with sensible transfer business in January, in such a tight league, any threat of relegation will be banished.

Who's next?

Albion are back in action at home to Ryan Lowe's Preston on Thursday, when Bristol City go to Millwall.

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson:

"The reaction of our fans is part of football. It's an emotional game and they are entitled to their opinion. I have been through it before at other clubs.

"I know the job I have to do here and always try to keep things in context. I would rather the supporters had a go at me than the players. The important thing is that they stay behind the team.

"The bigger picture is that there are good things going on. As a club, we now have to decide if we can strengthen in January. We may have to trade to do so, with players leaving. The priority is to strengthen the defence.

"I think we will be fine this season. I was brought in to do a job and effecting change isn't easy. I don't feel let down by the players in any way. We just came up against a very good side."

West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan:

"We deserved the three points. It was an excellent reaction from the players to the defeat by Coventry.

"One of the strengths of the group is that we have players capable of making a difference from the bench.

"Brandon did that with his pressing after going on. The quality of his goal will add further to his confidence."