West Brom 2 Bristol City 0: Report as magic Mikey Johnston's double clips Robins wings

A second consecutive home victory by that scoreline came courtesy of first-half double by the £3million summer signing from Celtic - his first goals since last season's loan was made permanent.

Johnston's brace, including a wonderful second, sent Corberan's men within a single goal of a return to the top six for Christmas.

But the head coach will be delighted with the first slice of festive action as his side gear up for five games in 14 days. One concern will be the absent Karlan Grant, but Johnston more than delivered as the players left the field to Oasis' She's Electric for the winger.

John Swift gave one of his best displays of the season and Grady Diangana returned as a lively substitute. 

A rarity this season has been a comfortable Albion fixture but the points looked as good as wrapped up by the mid-point of the second period as Albion came close to a third. Several performers caught the eye for the hosts including Kyle Bartley, Alex Mowatt and Tom Fellows, who racked up an eighth assist of the season.

The Baggies seem to have discovered a finishing touch - certainly in front of their own supporters - and that will come as another boost to the head coach after goal droughts in front of The Hawthorns faithful this season.

Corberan will be wary of player loads with Callum Styles and Grant among those missing, but will anticipate the prospect of a return to top form for Johnston and Swift and Diangana showing they can have an influence this term.

Swift, back in the starting line-up with Grant missing out entirely with a knock, tested Max O'Leary in the opening stages with a wind-assisted dipping strike from range after a quickly-taken free-kick.

Conditions worsened but set-pieces looked handy for Corberan's side as Swift's delivery picked out Bartley - and the big stopper might have done better than to head over.

Liam Manning's visitors found their feet quite well and were a threat with their energetic press and nifty movement.

But such play would suit Albion who operated on the counter-attack and got through the Robins' midfield on several occasions.

The final pass was lacking for the Baggies on a couple of occasions as either the wrong decision was made or the visitors just managed to find a way back to recover.

Albion's best chance of the opening half hour came from a better counter that fed Jayson Molumby on the right of the box. The Irishman should have shot but his low cross towards Josh Maja was cleared.

The breakthrough came 11 minutes before the interval with Johnston's first.

A free-kick on the right was taken quickly and fed Fellows. The academy graduate did the rest. He turned City attacker Scott Twine inside out to the byline and a cross was inch-perfect for his winger counterpart Johnston, who ghosted in unchecked to nod in easily from six yards.

The visitors responded well and Alex Palmer was forced into a first save to parry Luke McNally's angled header over.

But the Baggies found a crucial second on the stroke of half-time with a picture-book second - and for goalscorer Johnston it was like London buses.

Flying high with the confidence of his first he got on the scoresheet again but the goal owed so much to his colleagues.

Albion worked the ball out and the one-touch football from Mowatt, Swift and Maja just into the Robins' half was a joy to behold. Mowatt fed Johnston out to the left.

From there the former Celtic man did what he did so often last season. He jinked into the box from the left, on to his right foot and curled a fine finish high into the far side of the net. O'Leary was well beaten.

Albion's midfield took a couple of blows early in the second period and the hosts did well at one stage to survive with just nine men. With their full complement they almost had a third as Mowatt fed Johnston, who dragged wide. Molumby, in discomfort, was withdrawn.

City striker Fally Mayulu had been quiet but drew a parried save from Palmer from range.

Albion sensed blood either side of the hour. Some wizardry from magic man Johnston deflected just wide after the winger nutmegged Zak Vyner stylishly.

Fellows was denied by a last-ditch challenge while briefly one-on-one before sub Uros Racic tested O'Leary from outside the box.

Swift, starting for the first time since November 7, caught the eye with a creative display and Maja's shot was deflected just wide from Swift's fine through pass.

Corberan was able to hand Grady Diangana his first minutes since November 10 with a late cameo, as well as breathers for Fellows, Johnston and Maja on a comfortable afternoon.

Diangana was lively and his fine pass into the box picked out Cole, who should have netted his first goal for the club but slid wide.

Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong, Bartley (c), Holgate, Heggem; Fellows (Wallace, 74), Molumby (Racic, 54), Mowatt, Johnston (Diangana, 74); Swift (Dobbin, 81), Maja (Cole, 81). 

Subs not used: Wildsmith, McNair, Frabotta, Diakite. 

Bristol City (4-3-3): O'Leary; Vyner, Dickie, McNally, Pring; McGuane, Knight (c), Bird (McCrorie, 45); Twine (Earthy, 69), Mehmeti (Bell, 69), Mayulu (Hirakawa, 69).

Subs not used: Bajic, Atkinson, Tanner, Roberts, Morrison.

Attendance: 25,910 (2,530 Bristol City fans)

Referee: Thomas Kirk