WBA 1 Aston Villa 2: Steve Watson went from hero to villain in the space of three minutes as Milan Baros converted a late penalty winner to round off an unbeaten festive period for Aston Villa.
Watson had cancelled out Steven Davis' opener with his first goal for West Brom since his summer move from Everton with 15 minutes remaining at The Hawthorns. But then he stuck out an arm to block a Gareth Barry free-kick inside the area - and Baros made no mistake with his spot-kick to take Villa's points haul to eight from the four games over Christmas and the New Year.
Albion deserve credit for a spirited second-half fightback and Villa keeper Stuart Taylor - deputising for the ill Thomas Sorensen - did not inspire confidence. But the game would have been killed off as a meaningful contest in the opening 45 minutes had Villa tucked away their opportunities.
Albion missed the presence in midfield of their regular central duo of Ronnie Wallwork and Junichi Inamoto and Davis was an impressive figure in that department for David O'Leary's side. James Milner caused problems on the left flank while Aaron Hughes was a solid figure in the Villa back four during Albion's second-half resurgence.
The Baggies could have taken the lead with their first meaningful attack after five minutes. Diomansy Kamara and Kanu combined down the right before the former sent over a dangerous low cross. Jonathan Greening looked favourite to score at the far post but he poked his left-footed effort just wide.
Kanu's skill and trickery took him past two defenders and into the Villa box before Gareth Barry came across to make a vital block but Villa gradually assumed control of the first half. Curtis Davies produced a fine tackle to halt Baros in his tracks after he seized onto a through ball from Gavin McCann. But Luke Moore was guilty of squandering a golden chance to put Villa in front after 26 minutes.
Baros was able to get free of Davies for the first time in the game before squaring the ball to the over-lapping Davis. His low cross picked out the unmarked Moore only six yards from goal but he crashed his shot against the crossbar.
Villa were now turning the screw and Milner had a shot blocked by Watson and was only inches off target with a low drive from the edge of the box. The on-loan Newcastle player almost caught Albion out with an inswinging corner to the near post which was headed off the line by Paul Robinson.
Baggies keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who had been in outstanding form at Liverpool on Saturday, turned a pile-driver from McCann over the bar and it was now one-way traffic towards his goal.
Villa missed another gilt-edged opportunity when Mark Delaney shot over from almost underneath the bar after Olof Mellberg had turned a corner from Milner back across goal.
McCann became the first player to be yellow-carded for a challenge on Kamara. Villa continued the second half in the same vein and needed only two minutes to break the deadlock through Davis' sixth goal of the campaign. Baros robbed Clement and fed Milner who skipped past Martin Albrechtsen before supplying a deep cross which Davis headed in at the far post.
Albion tried to retaliate and Barry picked up his fifth booking of the season for a foul on Kamara which means he will be suspended for the league meeting with West Ham on January 14th.
Watson also went in Rob Styles' notebook for a late challenge on Mellberg. Albion started to build up some momentum and Taylor tipped over a Greening cross at full stretch. O'Leary brought on Juan Pablo Angel for Eirik Bakke with Moore dropping into midfield.
West Brom had claims for a penalty against Aaron Hughes for handball rejected and Taylor made a meal of saving a looping header from Nathan Ellington at the second attempt. Albion were now in the ascendancy and after 75 minutes Watson brought them back on level terms.
Taylor failed to deal with a Greening free-kick while under pressure from Watson, who drilled a shot through a ruck of players into the corner of the net. But Albion's joy was shortlived and as Watson was adjudged to have handled a free-kick from Barry. Up stepped Baros to drill the ball down the centre of the goal to restore Villa's lead.
