Crystal Palace vs West Brom match report: James Morrison and Craig Gardner crown Tony Pulis king on Selhurst return

Crystal Palace 0 West Brom 2: Pulis left Palace at the start of the season but returned to haunt his former club

James Morrison celebrates putting West Brom ahead early (Getty Images)

It was Craig Gardner’s 25-yard strike early in the second half that took this match beyond the reach of Crystal Palace, ending the hosts’ four-match winning streak in a game in which West Brom had taken their chances but ridden their luck at Selhurst Park.

“We needed a 90 minute performance,” West Brom manager Tony Pulis, who left his job in charge of Palace just days before the start of the season, said. “The players were resolute, determined, their concentration levels were good, on the basis that we still need points to stay in this league.”

These three points leave them eight points clear of the relegation zone, with five games to play, but those games include Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, so their importance is hard to overstate.

They were almost in the bag by the second minute. A Chris Brunt corner. A James Morrison header. The Palace defence had swarmed like ants over Manchester City two weeks ago. When Morrison rose at the far post it seemed like he was the only man in the penalty area.

James Morrison (far right) turns to celebrate after scoring in the second minutes (Getty Images)

Palace have been reborn under Alan Pardew, overflowing with self-belief and full of terrifying intent going forward. But it’s hard to imagine any Pulis side conceding a goal quite like that one.

“My team tried everything to try and find a way through,” Pardew said. “West Brom packed the defence. We played with passion, we controlled the game for 90 per cent of it, and we had chances.

“But West Brom for their part, stuck in, and scored a great second goal that was key.”

Tony Pulis (Getty Images)

West Brom’s second was unstoppable. Gardner’s strike from 25 yards soared, rocket-like over a crowded box, leaving Julian Speroni helpless and crashed into the back of the net.

Palace made chances, but they didn’t take them. But for small margins here and there it could have been a very different result.

Line-ups:

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Dann, Ledley; Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Zaha; Puncheon; Murray

West Bromwich (4-4-2): Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt; Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison; Berahino, Anichebe.

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Man of the match: Gardner (West Bromwich)

Match rating: 3/10.