Plymouth Argyle 1 West Bromwich 2: Bednar wrecks Sturrock's return

Paul Sturrock tipped West Brom for promotion after seeing the Baggies overshadow his Plymouth homecoming with a classy performance at Home Park.

Roman Bednar, making his first start for the club, scored twice to lift Albion to within two points of leaders Watford.

Sturrock, who re-joined the club just 24 hours earlier from Swindon, said: "In the first half we were bent over our knee and spanked. They will be promoted if they play to that standard."

Bednar, on loan from Hearts, seized his first goal on nine minutes when he converted Robert Coren's pass. The Czech striker grabbed his second with a simple header from Chris Brunt's chip cross two minutes before the break.

Substitute Jermaine Easter lashed home David Norris' pass to pull a goal back for Plymouth six minutes from time.

Tony Mobray, the West Brom manager, said: "It was important for us to send a message to the rest of the Championship sitting at home watching the TV by getting three points here."

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): Larrieu; Connolly, Kouo-Doumbe, Seip, Hodges (Fallon, 86); Gosling (Abdou, 45), Nalis, Norris, Halmosi; Ebanks-Blake, Hayles (Easter). Substitutes not used: McCormick (gk), Sawyer.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Cesar, Robinson; Gera, Koren, Greening, Brunt; Bednar (Beattie, 72), Teixeira (MacDonald, 79). Substitutes not used: Steele (gk), Chaplow, Pele.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Osim: Intensive care