West Bromwich 4 Leeds United 2: Kamara clicks nicely to boost Pearson prospects

This result for West Bromwich Albion's caretaker manager, Nigel Pearson, would no doubt have impressed his employers. Pity then that he has no interest in the job vacated by Bryan Robson last month. Or has he? Pearson denied he had applied for the job but had little else to say about his intentions after his 10 men defeated a poor Leeds United side.

His opposite number, Leeds' John Carver, meanwhile, has shouted from the rooftops about his suitability for the manager's post at Elland Road. This defeat, at the hands of a side that played with a man short for two-thirds of the game will be a blemish on his record. The former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri - who last week expressed his own interest in rejoining the former Stamford Bridge and now Leeds chairman, Ken Bates - would have sat up and taken notice.

A rather lacklustre opening third of the game ended when the Albion defender Paul McShane was dismissed after fouling Leeds' Geoff Horsfield, the former home favourite, in the penalty area on 32 minutes. David Healy put his penalty wide.

From then, it was Albion in the ascendancy. Martin Albrechtsen headed home Jason Koumas' corner on 41 minutes to give the home side the lead. The introduction of Diomansy Kamara after the interval proved to be a masterstroke for Pearson. Albion added to their lead on 65 minutes when Kevin Phillips crossed for the Senegal striker to score from close range.

Kamara then ran through the Leeds defence on 78 minutes before playing in Phillips, who tapped home. The points looked assured for Albion, but their opponents had other ideas. Horsfield pulled one goal back and Steve Stone another after Horsfield's shot hit the post, setting up a nervy ending but Kamara secured the points for Albion.

Goals: Albrechtsen (40) 1-0, Kamara (65) 2-0, Phillips 79 (3-0), Horsfield (82) 3-1, Stone (88) 3-2, Kamara (90) 4-2.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Zuberbühler; Albrechtsen, Perry, McShane, Robinson; Gera (Chaplow, 80), Carter, Koumas, Greening; Hartson (Kamara, 45), Phillips. Substitutes not used: Hoult (gk), Nicholson, Hodgkiss.

Leeds United: Warner; Kelly (Stone, 45), Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey; Douglas, Nicholls (Westlake, 54), Derry, Lewis (Moore, 70); Horsfield, Healy. Substitutes not used: Sullivan (gk), Foxe.

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Booked: WBA Phillips, Kamara, Carter; Leeds Derry, Douglas. Sent off: WBA McShane.

Man of the match: Kamara.

Attendance: 21,435.