Scott Hogan scored his first senior hat-trick since September 2016
Scott Hogan's hat-trick swept Birmingham City past West Brom to a first victory at the Hawthorns in 18 years.
Juninho Bacuna's defence-splitting pass teed up Hogan to fire the Blues ahead before Jed Wallace ran on to Jayson Molumby's through-ball and slipped the ball past John Ruddy to level.
Hogan smacked a shot in off the post from another fine Bacuna assist to restore their lead and then toe-poked his third through the legs of goalkeeper David Button.
Brandon Thomas-Asante's penalty gave the Baggies late hope after he was brought down by Dion Sanderson, but Blues held on for back-to-back wins.
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Albion almost salvaged a seventh draw in their first nine league games when Ruddy kept out Grady Diangana's close-range header, but Steve Bruce's side have just one win to their name and only goal difference keeps them out of the bottom three.
Traffic congestion saw the kick-off put back by 15 minutes, but John Eustace's men made a fast start and went close inside two minutes when Troy Deeney struck a fierce shot narrowly wide.
Having scored their first away goal at the fourth attempt on Saturday, Birmingham were on the scoresheet again after 13 minutes when Hogan sent a shot across Button and into the bottom corner.
The Baggies' response was swift, Wallace forcing Ruddy to save at his near post after being found unmarked by Conor Townsend's low cross, before the winger equalised moments later.
But the hosts failed to build on their momentum, and the Blues took full advantage when Bacuna's inch-perfect low cross allowed Hogan to smack a first-time shot in off the post to cap a rapid break.
Hogan took advantage of some limp defending to cut in and complete his first hat-trick since 2016 - when he helped Brentford beat Preston.
Ultimately it proved enough to secure only a second win in 11 meetings against their West Midlands rivals and leapfrog above them into 14th.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsWest Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Button29Gardner-Hickman5Bartley4O'Shea3Townsend14Molumby35Yokuslu17J Wallace19Swift11Diangana18Grant
- 1Button29Gardner-HickmanBooked at 64minsSubstituted forLivermoreat 77'minutes5BartleySubstituted forPietersat 77'minutes4O'Shea3TownsendBooked at 42mins14Molumby35YokusluSubstituted forThomas-Asanteat 60'minutes17J Wallace19Swift11Diangana18GrantSubstituted forPhillipsat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Furlong8Livermore10Phillips15Pieters20Reach21Thomas-Asante24Palmer
Birmingham
Formation 3-4-1-2
21Ruddy28Sanderson4Roberts5Trusty2Colin31Bielik18Chong48Williams7Bacuna8Deeney9Hogan
- 21Ruddy28SandersonBooked at 90mins4RobertsSubstituted forLekoat 60'minutes5Trusty2Colin31BielikSubstituted forJamesat 45'minutes18Chong48WilliamsSubstituted forHallat 86'minutes7BacunaSubstituted forMejbriat 76'minutes8DeeneySubstituted forJutkiewiczat 77'minutes9Hogan
Substitutes
- 1Etheridge6Mejbri10Jutkiewicz14Leko19James27Bellingham35Hall
Referee:Josh SmithAttendance:23,089Match StatsHome TeamWest BromAway TeamBirminghamPossessionHome65%Away35%ShotsHome18Away7Shots on TargetHome5Away3CornersHome6Away2FoulsHome6Away12Live TextPost update
Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Birmingham City 3.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 2, Birmingham City 3.
90'+6'Booking
Dion Sanderson (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.
90'+6'Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Dion Sanderson.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. John Swift (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Jed Wallace with a cross.
90'+5'Post update
Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by George Hall (Birmingham City).
90'+3'Post update
Hand ball by Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion).
90'Post update
Attempt saved. Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jake Livermore with a headed pass.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Grady Diangana.
89'Post update
Erik Pieters (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'Post update
Foul by Scott Hogan (Birmingham City).
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Erik Pieters.
86'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. George Hall replaces Josh Williams.
84'Post update
Attempt blocked. Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
84'Post update
Matt Phillips (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
84'Post update
Foul by Tahith Chong (Birmingham City).
83'Post update
Goal! West Bromwich Albion 2, Birmingham City 3. Brandon Thomas-Asante (West Bromwich Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
81'Post update
Penalty West Bromwich Albion. Brandon Thomas-Asante draws a foul in the penalty area.
81'Post update
Penalty conceded by Dion Sanderson (Birmingham City) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Source: bbc.com