Swansea City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion: Liam Cullen scores winner for managerless Swans
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Swansea players celebrate Liam Cullen's fourth goal of the season
Managerless Swansea City claimed a morale-boosting victory over West Brom thanks to Liam Cullen's second-half goal.
West Brom had looked the more likely winners during a first half in which Brandon Thomas-Asante wasted a golden opportunity to put his side ahead.
But Swansea improved markedly after the break, with Cullen delivering the game's decisive moment when he swept the ball low into the net from Harry Darling's knock-down.
This was a notable triumph for Swansea, who won for the third time in seven games under the guidance of caretaker boss Alan Sheehan.
It was just a fourth home league win of what has been a difficult season for the Swans, but the second in succession.
There was frustration for promotion-chasing Albion as they were beaten for only the second time in six Championship games.
Carlos Corberan's side remain fifth in the table despite the reverse, while Swansea climb a place to 16th.
It is 28 days since the Welsh club sacked Michael Duff, but still their staff, players and fans wait for news of who their next head coach will be.
Performances and results have been mixed under Sheehan, with Swansea craving the sort of consistency West Brom have produced since putting a slow start to this campaign behind them in early autumn.
Fresh from festive home victories over Norwich City and Leeds United, West Brom had the better of what was a fairly low-key first half, with Thomas-Asante wasting their big chance.
Tom Fellows, who started in the absence of the injured Jed Wallace, turned cleverly before feeding Thomas-Asante, who looked certain to score after cutting inside Darling only to drill a shot too close to Swansea goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
Rushworth also pushed over Conor Townsend's drive, while Darnell Furlong saw a header blocked by Ben Cabango.
At the other end, Albion keeper Alex Palmer was largely a spectator before the break, though he did gather Darling's header after Josh Tymon crossed invitingly from the left.
Swansea improved markedly after the restart, with Jamie Paterson's volley blocked before another Darling header drew a sharper save from Palmer.
Swansea's Jay Fulton makes a sliding challenge on West Brom's Alex Mowatt
The breakthrough arrived from a half-cleared corner, with Matt Grimes eventually lifting the ball back into the penalty area.
Darling's aerial ability was apparent once more as he headed down for Cullen to score his second goal in as many games.
Swansea might have added a second eight minutes from time when Tymon cut on to his right foot and floated a shot on to the crossbar.
While Albion huffed and puffed in their search for an equaliser, they never really looked like getting one against a Swansea side whose obvious desire brought reward as they registered a first clean sheet in 11 games.
Swansea caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan:
"To get back-to-back wins at home, to beat a top-six team - it's been a long time I believe - that builds confidence.
"What we saw today was a team fighting for the badge, fighting for each other, working together in possession and out of possession.
"Then obviously they withstood that pressure at the end on the back of a really tough Christmas period with travelling and sickness and the level of opponent we have had.
"To come out of this period with 11 points from seven games is very pleasing. The players deserve a large amount of credit for that."
West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan:
"There was a lack of accuracy when we have the opportunity to score a goal.
"In the first we were better than Swansea. The biggest chance of the game was Brandon Thomas-Asante in front of the keeper, and after that we had another opportunity in the first half.
"Swansea found the second phase of one set-piece [to score]. After this goal I think with the changes, we recovered control of the game.
"We created chances but we couldn't score the goal we needed. But in general for me I like the spirit of this group of players."