West Bromwich Albion stretched their unbeaten run to three matches with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The Baggies arrested a two-game losing streak to West Midlands derby rivals Villa courtesy of a 39th-minute goal from Saido Berahino who opened his account after almost leaving the club for Tottenham in the summer.
The only goal of the contest came in the 39th minute when James Morrison fired on target to see Berahino divert the effort Brad Guzan with a clever touch.
The victory was Tony Pulis' West Brom's second of the season which has them placed 12th on the table on eight points while Tim Sherwood's Villa occupy 17th having been beaten four times in their six outings.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Aston Villa: 0
West Bromwich Albion: 1 (Saido Berahino 39')
Villa Park, Birmingham - 36,321
TALKING POINTS
- What will a hard-fought West Midlands derby win like this do for West Brom's season?
- Can Berahino out behind him the summer transfer saga and fire Albion up the table?
- Are Villa good enough to get out of this mire having recorded just one win so far?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Villa play host to Birmingham City in another Midlands derby in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday before heading to Liverpool on the weekend. Albion will take on Norwich City in the cup on Wednesday prior to a Monday night meeting with Everton at home next week.
TWITTER INSIGHT
God work never fails, as a team we was fantastic what a great result. #Godwinpic.twitter.com/FHBAskPQS4
— Saido Berahino (@SBerahino) September 19, 2015Get in! Few things better then 3 points in a local derby. Glad to play a part even if it was a small one. Up the Baggies!
— Jonas Olsson (@J_OlssonViasat) September 19, 2015Honour to have made my home debut (Boyhood dream) just gutted with the result. No time to mope tho with the biggest game of the season ahead
— Joleon Lescott (@JoleonLescott) September 19, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
West Brom's Pulis on Berahino returning to form:
"The transfer window has been a nightmare for this club, not just for Saido but all the players as well. Hopefully he gets his head down and concentrates on what he is good at."
Villa boss Sherwood on his side's predicament:
"I'm being very honest when I say we deserve more than what we've got before but today we possibly got what we deserved.
"We are going to have to dig it out."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
16 - 16 of Saido Berahino's 20 Premier League goals have come in the West Midlands (14 at the Hawthorns, 2 at Villa Park). Homecoming.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
ASTON VILLA
Goals - Scott Sinclair 2
Assists - Four players on 1
Clean sheets - Brad Guzan 1
Yellow cards - Ciaran Clark 3
Red cards - Daryl Janmaat, Aleksandar Mitrovic 1
WEST BROM
Goals - James Morrison 2
Assists - Four players on 1
Clean sheets - Boaz Myhill 4
Yellow cards - Four players on 2
