Watch free-to-view highlights of Albion's Premier League win against Sheffield United.
Albion picked up a crucial first three points of the Premier League season by beating Sheffield United 1-0 at The Hawthorns on Saturday night.
- Bilić: 'It feels like more than three points'
- Captain Bartley proud of team-mates
- Gallagher 'buzzing' with first Baggies goal
It was a deserved victory for the Baggies, who won the game thanks to Conor Gallagher’s maiden Baggies goal 13 minutes into the clash.
The result could have been more comfortable had Slaven Bilić’s side converted another one of their near-20 shots at goal, but in the end Albion will take a victory that lifts them out of the top flight’s bottom three and into 17th.
Albion made just one change to the team that were cruelly defeated at Old Trafford exactly one week earlier, with former Blade Callum Robinson coming in for Grady Diangana
Yet it was the visitors who made the stronger start - John Fleck drilling an early half-volley wide before, moments later, Conor Townsend had to brilliantly block a George Baldock shot that looked destined to open the scoring.
Albion’s first opportunity arrived on the 12 minute mark when Matheus Pereira played a superb ball over the top to Karlan Grant, but United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did well to close the striker down and push his effort behind.
And it was from that corner that the Baggies took the lead - Gallagher latching onto Pereira’s cleared set-piece and striking a low shot home to net for the first time since joining on loan from Chelsea.
Sam Johnstone was forced into making a fantastic stop from Oliver Burke’s goal-bound header soon after Albion went in front, though other than that is was mainly the hosts who were pushing for another ahead of half time.
Pereira hit a couple of efforts wide from range, Robinson had one deflected over and Grant was saved at point-blank range as a second seemed to elude them.
They continued to push following the interval - Pereira’s chipped free-kick had to be guided narrowly off-target by the wall and Bartley saw a powerful header well parried by Ramsdale.
Baldock and Oliver McBurnie might have done better with their chances as the Blades searched for a leveller with time running out, but even then Albion were creating their own opportunities as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu curled into Ramsdale’s arms and Furlong headed agonisingly over.
Seven minutes of stoppage time provided one final bit of drama when United’s Lys Mousset nearly found an equaliser from close-range, but eventually Mike Dean blew for full-time and handed the Baggies an important triumph.
Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanović, Bartley, Townsend (Phillips 75); Pereira, Sawyers, Gallagher; Grant (Krovinović 75), Robinson (Robson-Kanu 65).
Substitutes: Button, O’Shea, Harper, Diangana.