West Brom returned to the top of the Championship with a comfortable victory over Bristol City.
Jerome Thomas gave Albion an early lead by firing home at the end of a mazy run with Chris Brunt doubling the advantage after rounding goalkeeper Dean Gerken.
The contest was ended just after half time when Louis Carey turned Simon Cox's shot into his own net.
Cox slid home for the Baggies' fourth, with Paul Hartley's late free kick only serving as a consolation for City.
The thumping at The Hawthorns brings an end to City's seven-match unbeaten run, but things may have turned out differently had Cole Skuse's early effort not been cleared off the line by Gianni Zuiverloon.
From their reprieve, West Brom attacked down the left through Thomas, whose low shot from the edge of the penalty area beat Gerken.
The Baggies, who are yet to lose after taking the lead in the league this season, extended their advantage when Brunt controlled Graham Dorran's long pass and put the ball into the net after avoiding the City goalkeeper.
The game was effectively ended less than a minute into the second half when Cox's effort, which appeared to be going wide, was diverted home by Carey.
Some 50 seconds later, the hosts further extended their advantage when Cech's cross from the left was turned home by Cox.
Zuiverloon had a chance to make it five for the hosts but it was Hartley who completed the goalscoring, firing into the top right corner after Nicky Maynard had been felled by Dutch defender.
West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo: "You cannot be higher than top of the table but we will not be getting complacent.
"I thought it was an excellent performance and I was delighted with the display. We looked very strong.
"Getting an early goal is in your game plan and getting those goals at the start of the second half meant that the game was over."
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson: "We are very disappointed but we are not totally distraught after coming up against a very good side.
"We had a bit of the play but didn't take our chances. At 2-0 you know the next goal is vital and they got it.
"After a result like this you slaughter the players first because that is how you feel because we did defend poorly and didn't create enough chances."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
West Brom
4-1
Bristol City
FT
(HT 2-0)
Thomas 3
Brunt 12
Carey (og) 47
Cox 48
Hartley 83
West Brom
19 Carson
02 Mattock (Cech 29)
03 Olsson
22 Zuiverloon
23 Meite
36 Jara
11 Brunt
14 Thomas
17 Dorrans (Mulumbu 57)
16 Moore
31 Cox yellow card (Koren 78)
Substitutes
01 Kiely,
04 Cech,
24 Martis,
07 Koren,
20 Filipe Teixeira,
21 Mulumbu,
15 Wood
Bristol City
22 Gerken
03 McAllister (Williams 16)
05 McCombe
06 Carey
32 Nyatanga
07 Elliott (Johnson 78)
11 Hartley
14 Skuse
29 Sno (Clarkson 78)
10 Maynard
31 Haynes
Substitutes
35 Basso,
04 Fontaine,
08 Johnson,
15 Williams,
17 Sproule,
09 Clarkson,
33 Saborio
Ref: OliverAtt: 23,444
WEST BROM
BRISTOL CITY
Possession
West Brom55%
Bristol City45%
Attempts on target
West Brom8
Bristol City6
Attempts off target
West Brom6
Bristol City7
Corners
West Brom3
Bristol City7
Fouls
West Brom17
Bristol City10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:10 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+1:11 Foul by Luke Moore on Jamie McCombe, free kick awarded. Jamie McCombe restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:08 Marek Cech fouled by Danny Haynes, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
88:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against David Clarkson. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
88:20 Chris Brunt concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Haynes. Free kick taken by Louis Carey.
87:21 Gavin Williams challenges Luke Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Brunt takes the direct free kick.
86:26 Effort from outside the area by Luke Moore goes wide right of the goal.
85:26 Headed effort from close range by Luke Moore goes wide left of the goal.
84:56 Luke Moore is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Dean Gerken.
82:04 GOAL - Paul Hartley:West Brom 4 - 1 Bristol City Paul Hartley hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from long distance to the top right corner of the goal. West Brom 4-1 Bristol City.
81:37 Nicky Maynard fouled by Gianni Zuiverloon, the ref awards a free kick.
80:40 Foul by Danny Haynes on Gianni Zuiverloon, free kick awarded. Youssouf Mulumbu takes the free kick.
79:37 Paul Hartley takes a shot. Save made by Scott Carson.
77:17 Substitution (West Brom) makes a substitution, with Robert Koren coming on for Simon Cox.
77:17 Substitution (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with David Clarkson coming on for Evander Sno.
77:17 Substitution Marvin Elliott goes off and Lee Johnson comes on.
77:02 Booking Simon Cox receives a caution for dissent.
74:40 Inswinging corner taken by Jerome Thomas from the left by-line, Jamie McCombe manages to make a clearance.
74:25 Chris Brunt takes a shot. Save by Dean Gerken.
73:31 Inswinging corner taken by Paul Hartley from the right by-line.
72:24 Foul by Jonas Olsson on Danny Haynes, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Paul Hartley, save by Scott Carson.
71:56 Paul Hartley fouled by Youssouf Mulumbu, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Hartley takes the direct free kick.
71:27 Luke Moore is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Dean Gerken restarts play with the free kick.
68:59 Nicky Maynard has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
67:52 Danny Haynes fouled by Youssouf Mulumbu, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Hartley restarts play with the free kick.
66:07 Simon Cox takes a shot. Save made by Dean Gerken.
65:26 Danny Haynes has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.
64:43 Corner taken right-footed by Jerome Thomas, clearance made by Louis Carey.
64:27 Simon Cox takes a shot. Save made by Dean Gerken.
63:31 Simon Cox concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie McCombe. Louis Carey takes the direct free kick.
62:36 The referee blows for offside against Luke Moore. Free kick taken by Dean Gerken.
61:24 Long distance shot from Nicky Maynard misses to the left of the net.
60:58 Paul Hartley takes the inswinging corner, Youssouf Mulumbu makes a clearance.
60:32 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Evander Sno by Gianni Zuiverloon. Paul Hartley takes the free kick.
58:27 Chris Brunt takes a shot. Save by Dean Gerken.
56:46 Luke Moore concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie McCombe. Paul Hartley takes the free kick.
55:45 Clearance by Marek Cech.
55:45 Substitution Graham Dorrans goes off and Youssouf Mulumbu comes on.
55:45 Corner taken right-footed by Paul Hartley from the right by-line,
55:17 Foul by Jonas Olsson on Marvin Elliott, free kick awarded. Paul Hartley takes the free kick.
54:07 Foul by Gavin Williams on Jerome Thomas, free kick awarded. Marek Cech takes the free kick.
52:59 Corner taken by Graham Dorrans, Dean Gerken makes a save.
52:15 Marek Cech fouled by Danny Haynes, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Carson takes the free kick.
51:08 The offside flag is raised against Paul Hartley. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
47:36 Assist by Marek Cech.
47:36 GOAL - Simon Cox:West Brom 4 - 0 Bristol City Simon Cox finds the back of the net with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. West Brom 4-0 Bristol City.
46:43 GOAL - Louis Carey:West Brom 3 - 0 Bristol City Louis Carey puts the ball into his own net. West Brom 3-0 Bristol City.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:22 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+2:40 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gonzalo Jara on Nicky Maynard. Paul Hartley takes the free kick.
45:00+0:49 Foul by Evander Sno on Chris Brunt, free kick awarded. Gonzalo Jara takes the free kick.
41:10 The referee blows for offside against Luke Moore. Dean Gerken takes the indirect free kick.
40:17 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Paul Hartley, Header from deep inside the area by Marvin Elliott goes over the bar.
39:38 Foul by Gonzalo Jara on Paul Hartley, free kick awarded. Paul Hartley takes the direct free kick.
38:59 Lewin Nyatanga gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Brunt. Free kick taken by Abdoulaye Meite.
38:22 Marek Cech takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand post.
36:39 Jamie McCombe concedes a free kick for a foul on Jerome Thomas. Chris Brunt shoots direct from the free kick, save by Dean Gerken.
36:03 Unfair challenge on Jerome Thomas by Cole Skuse results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Marek Cech.
35:10 Marvin Elliott takes a shot and missed to the right of the net.
34:14 The referee penalises Marek Cech for handball. Dean Gerken takes the free kick.
31:09 Chris Brunt challenges Evander Sno unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lewin Nyatanga restarts play with the free kick.
28:26 Corner taken by Paul Hartley from the right by-line to the near post, Abdoulaye Meite makes a clearance.
28:26 Substitution Joe Mattock goes off and Marek Cech comes on.
25:30 Jonas Olsson challenges Paul Hartley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Paul Hartley.
23:32 Graham Dorrans has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
23:00 Jerome Thomas challenges Jamie McCombe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Hartley takes the direct free kick.
21:45 Foul by Chris Brunt on Evander Sno, free kick awarded. Paul Hartley takes the free kick.
21:30 Nicky Maynard takes a shot. Scott Carson makes a save.
20:37 Gavin Williams challenges Joe Mattock unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Mattock.
15:41 Substitution Jamie McAllister leaves the field to be replaced by Gavin Williams.
13:26 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie McAllister from the right by-line to the near post, Jonas Olsson makes a clearance.
12:25 Nicky Maynard takes a shot. Scott Carson makes a save.
11:39 Assist on the goal came from Joe Mattock.
11:39 GOAL - Chris Brunt:West Brom 2 - 0 Bristol City Chris Brunt fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. West Brom 2-0 Bristol City.
5:20 Simon Cox takes a shot and missed to the right of the target.
4:37 Nicky Maynard has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.
4:20 Paul Hartley decides to take the corner short.
4:02 Jamie McCombe takes a shot. Save by Scott Carson.
3:43 Graham Dorrans gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Hartley. Direct free kick taken by Jamie McAllister.
2:41 Assist on the goal came from Graham Dorrans.
2:41 GOAL - Jerome Thomas:West Brom 1 - 0 Bristol City Jerome Thomas grabs a goal from long distance to the bottom left corner of the goal. West Brom 1-0 Bristol City.
1:32 Luke Moore produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.
0:00 The game gets underway.
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