Sheffield United beat the Baggies 2-1 on their own stomping ground, but the score line could have been much different had the hosts not wasted opportunities in front of goal as Blades boss Howard Kendall grew angrier as each shot came in.
For much of the game United went untroubled and two goals in a three minute second half spell looked to set up a straight forward victory for the Blades, and with eleven minutes remaining substitute Stacey Coldicott headed home Kevin Donovan’s cross to send the home support into dexterity and give some hope that they can fight back and claim at least a point out of this match.
On too few occasions the Baggies came ever so close to levelling the scores, future united players Paul Peschisolido was kept out by Alan Kelly, who produced his best save of the match whilst Ian Hamilton shot wide.
Blades boss Kendall said; "I felt if they pulled one back they would go on to give us problems. We made a mistake with their goal and then defended too deep. But on the whole it is a good night for us.”
The Albion manager, Alan Buckley had been given a vote of confidence by his chairman prior to this match but when he dropped leading marksman Andy Hunt and Richard Sneekes, his attacking midfielder was succumbed to the bench and eventually given a second half run-out.
United however must be given much credit for this victory and what has (in the past) been a difficult place to visit, they took the lead through their substitute Andy Walker who seized onto a loose ball after Dutch defender Michael Vonk headed a corner towards goal and on the hour mark Don Hutchinson fired a shot between two defenders after Paul Crichton thumbed a hanging cross.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-4-2): P Crichton - D Holmes, D Burgess (sub: S Coldicott, 32min), P Raven, P Agnew - K Donovan, I Hamilton, P Groves, D Gilbert (sub: R Sneekes, 46) - B Taylor (sub: A Hunt, 64), P Peschisolido.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): A Kelly - D Holdsworth, M Vonk, R Nilsen - C Short, M Ward (sub: A Walker, 41), D Hutchison, M Patterson, D Whitehouse - P Katchouro (sub: L Sandford, 74), G Taylor.
Referee: P Richards.