Roman Bednar set West Brom on their way to a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe, moving them top of the Championship.
Bednar and Zuiverloon hand West Brom top spot
A moment of class from Roman Bednar set West Brom on their way to a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe that helped them move to the top of the Championship table.
The Czech striker's delicate goal early in the first half, coupled with Gianni Zuiverloon's late striker, helped the Baggies take full advantage of Newcastle's shock defeat at Derby as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.
Albion enjoyed the majority of the possession in between the two goals but were unable to create too many clear-cut chances against a Scunthorpe side that had captain Cliff Byrne sent off late on.
West Ham teenager Frank Nouble was given his Baggies debut from the off, but it was experienced striker Bednar who was the first to go close, seeing his six-yard drive blocked by David Mirfin.
Scunthorpe responded well and Sam Togwell flashed a drive over the bar from 25 yards after Joe Mattock slipped when trying to clear, while Bednar passed up another chance when he fired over after Nouble had played him in.
The chances continued to flow and Mattock sent a low effort just wide of Joe Murphy's post, while the former Albion keeper did well to palm away Nouble's strike.
Opener
Albion's early pressure made it almost inevitable that they would score, and the goal duly came after 13 minutes through Bednar.
Robert Koren made it, getting to the byline before crossing for Bednar who back-flicked home on the turn for his ninth of the season.
Scunthorpe's hopes of an instant response were hit when Brendan Moloney was forced to limp off, but Matt Sparrow went close to getting them back on terms with a volley that edged wide.
The Iron were fortunate not to be two behind at the break, though, with Rob Jones inadvertently stopping Chris Brunt's strike from evading Murphy.
The home crowd were becoming increasingly agitated at their side's failure to add to Bednar's goal, but they went close to doing so three times inside the space of a minute after the restart.
First Graham Dorrans saw his strike blocked by Togwell, before Gabriel Tamas had two follow-up efforts well shielded by Sparrow and Jones.
Gary Hooper fired over the bar from the edge of the area to keep Scunthorpe interested, while at the other end Brunt and Dorrans again took aim from distance as Albion were unable to break down Scunthorpe's stubborn rearguard.
They did manage to put the seal on the win eventually, though, when Zuiverloon latched on to Bednar's 86th-minute pass and lofted a finish over a hapless Murphy.
Byrne was then somewhat harshly dismissed for a late foul on Abdoulaye Meite.
