Carlos Corberán oversaw his first victory as Albion Head Coach on Tuesday night as Okay Yokuslu’s late goal earned the Baggies a 1-0 win over Blackpool at The Hawthorns.
The hosts, who largely dominated proceedings all evening, had to remain patient for 86 minutes against Michael Appleton’s Tangerines – but had their Turkish international to thank when his close-range poke handed them all three Sky Bet Championship points.
Albion return to action this Saturday when they visit QPR in search of back-to-back triumphs.
Corberán switched formation and made three changes to his starting XI from Saturday’s defeat to Sheffield United, bringing in Kyle Bartley, Yokuslu and John Swift.
And the boss would have been encouraged by Albion’s improved first half showing, where they controlled possession and created the two best chances through Karlan Grant’s low finish and Bartley’s close-range header – which were both saved.
The teams went in goalless at the break, but the Baggies initially came out again with the same intensity and threatened twice more straight away, though Matt Phillips and John Swift both struck over.
Grady Diangana was introduced around the hour mark and almost had an immediate impact, playing in Swift to see his effort well stopped.
Grant shot off-target and Matt Phillips was denied before Albion finally found a breakthrough four minutes from time, Yokuslu poking home following a scramble in front of the Birmingham Road End.
It was the midfielder's first goal in Baggies colours - and what a time to score it, as his side saw the game out to claim an important win.
Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, O’Shea, Townsend; Yokuslu, Gardner-Hickman (Molumby 76); Phillips (Thomas-Asante 83), Swift, Wallace (Diangana 59); Grant (Rogic 76).
Substitutes: Button, Pieters, Livermore.
Attendance: 19,786