Cardiff City fell to another defeat after goals from Mikey Johnston and Andi Weimann earned West Brom a comfortable 2-0 victory.
It's worrying times for the Bluebirds, whose rotten form is really starting to become a big concern. The defeat at The Hawthorns sees Cardiff's recent record extend to just two wins in their last nine outings in all competitions, a run which has seen them slide further down into the bottom half of the table.
It's another goalless game, too, which will be as concerning to Erol Bulut as the result itself. Save a late Kion Etete chance, Cardiff rarely caused West Brom any trouble. West Brom, meanwhile, were faster, more clinical and looked like a team brimming with confidence.
It was the start no City fan ever wants to see, a goal conceded inside the first minute of a match. What would have disappointed them more, however, was the manner in which it was gifted to the hosts.
A simple ball was played down the flank and Tom Fellows zipped easily past Jamilu Collins before pulling a cross back into Johnston's path and he swept home with ease past Ethan Horvath on debut.
Cardiff had changed the system, with Famara Diedhiou, on his first start, up top in a two with Yakou Meite. The game plan had clearly changed slightly, too, with far more emphasis placed on getting balls into the box towards the sizeable front men. Although they had little success, really.
Cardiff have really struggled to penetrate the opponents' box this season and it proved the case again in the first half. Cardiff's best chance came when a set-piece was half-cleared to Meite, who belted a shot straight at a Baggies defender from just 12 yards out. Aside from that, it was a fairly slow and ponderous first half resulting in very few real chances.
The slow-tempo continued into the second half, forcing Erol Bulut into a few changes, one of which saw Aaron Ramsey come on and have a real opportunity to level proceedings.
Perry Ng lifted a left-footed cross into the back post and Ramsey got around the back before stooping low and heading across goal, unfortunately for him it was just wide of the mark.
Ramsey was the architect for Cardiff's biggest chance, though. Josh Wilson-Esbrand stuck a decent cross to the back post and this time the Wales captain opted to head back into the danger zone, where Kion Etete was waiting. But the striker laid back and scooped his effort over the bar from point-blank range. He really should have done better.
And it proved costly, too, because minutes later Albion were away down the right through Jed Wallace, who stuck in a superb low cross and Weimann made no mistake, tucking it home into an empty net.
West Brom XI: Palmer; Furlong, Kipre, Pieters, Townsend; Okay, Mowatt (Marshall 90); Johnston (Reach 67), Swift (Chalobah 71), Fellows (Wallace 67; Thomas-Asante (Weimann 67).
Subs: Griffiths, Pipa, Malcolm, Hall.
Cardiff City XI: Horvath; Ng, Goutas, Phillips, Collins; Wintle, Turnbull (Siopis 59); Meite (Etete 59), Colwill (Bowler 76), Wilson-Esbrand; Diedhiou (Ramsey 63).
Subs: Turner, Romeo, Ralls, Sawyers, Tanner..
Key Events
89
It blatantly comes off a West Brom head and goes behind but the referee gives a goal kick somehow.
86
Collins makes a hash of a clearance at the back post and it falls to Wallace, who heads just wide via Goutas.
GOAL! West Brom 2-0 Cardiff City (Weimann 80)
Weimann scores.
A break down Albion's right sees Wallace set free and he puts in a brilliant cross across the face of goal. Weimann is there to tap home into an open goal.
75
Cardiff just having a bit more of the ball here. A number of crosses being sent into the box but no luck as yet.
70
Etete must do better there. Wilson-Esbrand lifts a ball to the back post and Ramsey this time heads back into the danger zone. It finds Etete, who lifts over the bar from just five yards out.
65
Ng with a left-footed cross to the back post and Ramsey stoops and heads back across goal - but it's wide!
62
Cardiff look to mount an attack but Wintle turns and passes it back to Goutas. Away fans groan.
59
Odd substitution choice for my money, but there we go. Siopis loses possession after being introduced, Ng forced into a tackle to stop a counter down Albion's left.
57
Meite cuts inside and shoots. It's well wide from 20 yards. He has just signalled to the bench. Looks like he needs replacing. Shame. He's looked more of a threat than his strike partner tonight.
52
Furlong yellow carded this time, for a foul on Wilson-Esbrand. Looked very, very harsh at first glance.
48
First chance for Albion. Thomas-Asante gets in behind Goutas and squares it to Swift. He doesn't connect with the shot under pressure, though, and Horvath picks it up.
45
Meite with a decent low cross - but it's cleared at the front post. He's been just about Cardiff's best player this half.
One minute added on.
42
Fellows gets past Wilson-Esbrand again and puts in a cross - Horvath collects this one.
39
There's the difference in snapshot. Every time West Brom have broken away, Fellows has skinned Collins or Wilson-Esbrand and put in a dangerous cross. The one time Cardiff do anything with pace, thanks to Meite's sweeping pass out to Wilson-Esbrand, the wing-back gets past his man and puts an aimless ball over the cross bar. Frustrating. Inaccurate. Slow.
35
Corner falls to Wintlke on the edge of the box, but his left-footed shot is blocked 20 yards out.
