Steve Bruce reveals 'vital ingredient' as West Brom inflict 'very painful' defeat on Hull City

The Steve Bruce era at West Bromwich Albion is officially underway after Valerien Ismael's successor as manager got his first win on the board.

Karlan Grant netted his 11th and 12th goals of the season either side of half time to secure the win for a much changed side which gave Bruce ample food for thought.

Albion were well on top before the opening goal. Matt Ingram had to deny both Conor Townsend and Grant before the latter did eventually secure a breakthrough in the 17th minute.

Darnell Furlong and Mowatt worked the ball on the right hand side and the latter delivered an in-swinging cross into the danger zone. Grant, lurking, stuck out a leg and prodded home in predatory fashion.

The Baggies were given the ideal chance to double their lead just after the interval when Taylor Gardner-Hickman was dragged to the floor by Jacob Greaves inside the penalty area.

Grant converted the spot kick, coolly sending goalkeeper Ingram the wrong way.

Two goals up, away from home. Such a refreshing change from what has gone before, and now there was the vaguely familiar challenge of ensuring that Albion saw it out. It’s been literally months since that afternoon at Coventry City, where they’d raced into a two-goal lead and were made to cling on late in the day.

Here, there was no hanging on. Thanks in no small part to the aggressive Livermore, the colossal Clarke and the energy of Ajayi, it was a routine finale. Indeed Albion might’ve added further gloss had Grant sealed his hat-trick from a tight angle.

They will, however, take this. By doing so, they’ve not cured all of their ills of recent months, but with this personnel in this system, Bruce might just have stumbled across something which can work going forwards.

“He does what a