West Brom 2 Oxford United 0: Baggies back to winning ways with 102nd minute second

Alex Mowatt's 11th-minute finish against his former club was the difference for much of the contest on a routine afternoon for Tony Mowbray's side having gone two games without a win.

Substitute John Swift tapped into an empty net after a break from a U's corner in the 102nd minute after visiting goalkeeper Jamie Cumming had gone up in search of a leveller.

The Baggies were not swashbuckling, nor was it a convincing, but three points were enough to lift Albion two places to fifth having momentarily dropped out of the play-off places.

Mowatt's sixth goal of the season was a well-taken finish from a neat move but Mowbray's men created few clear openings therein - though clocked up a huge 22 shots, most from range.

Substitute debutant Tammer Bany, the £3.3million January recruit, set up Swift for possibly Albion's latest ever goal in normal time after Grady Diangana did well.

The last team Albion kept opposition from scoring was December 22, a home win against Bristol City shortly prior to Corberan's exit. The Baggies have been far too kind defensively since.

The afternoon's dark note was the sight of Semi Ajayi, recently back from hamstring surgery, trudge off before the interval feeling what appeared the same area.

Mowbray's men - featuring another four changes to the starting line-up - were bright from the off and quickly penned the struggling visitors into their own defensive third.

It felt like an afternoon where patient would be the order of the day but there was not much required for the hosts to break through on 11 minutes.

It was all about the midfield for the early opener. Jayson Molumby launched things from a deep position as his clever ball forward found Isaac Price in space some 25 yards out.

Price, the lively January signing, did well to assess his options on the turn and slide in a clever through ball to release a charging Mowatt into the box.

The third of the midfield trio kept his cool in an unusually advanced position while one-on-one with goalkeeper Cumming and converted a smart finish to the right before enjoying himself in front of the away end against his former loan side.

An early goal was just what Mowbray's side needed and Oxford shook for a while. Albion struggles to create much clear-cut of note in the first period but they were a threat around the edge of the box with several pot-shots. Price was central to most and Mikey Johnston was busy.

Molumby stooped to send a low header at Cumming before striker Adam Armstrong lashed over from range after darting into space.

Johnston had a couple of cracks from the right flank blocked. He and Armstrong do not need a second invitation to shoot, but the reluctance of others frustrated the home crowd. Ajayi climbed well to header a clever Price cross well over. 

The big blot on Albion's first-half copybook came five minutes before the interval. Ajayi pulled up under minimal pressure while jockeying a purple shirt and hit the deck.

The defender was clearly in distress and shook his head before receiving treatment on a hamstring and trudging off to be replaced by Mason Holgate. Ajayi had recently returned from the best part of four months from hamstring surgery.

Oxford had offered precious little in the final third though it felt the Baggies required a second goal to kill off the contest. Long-serving Albion winger Matt Phillips, released last summer, struggled to influence things, had did his Yellows colleagues.

Former Norwich and Swansea winger Przemyslaw Placheta threatened once or twice in a bright start after the break.

Armstrong uncharacteristically failed to connect with a good low Callum Styles cross from the left before the loan striker curled a free-kick narrowly over.

There was a lull either side of the hour mark as both sides struggled to build any momentum. U's boss Gary Rowett was first to ring the changes in search of an injection.

Left winger Johnston was Albion's brightest attacker and fired wide after a jinking run. Mowatt went about doubling his tally to make the points safe but his scorcher from distance was well saved by Cumming at full stretch.

Price curled a first-time strike well over but the final 15 minutes contained little by way of goalscoring openings. A speculative strike from range cannoned into sub Will Lankshear's shoulder in about as close as Oxford came.

Rowett's visitors kept going in the unlikely hope deep into lengthy stoppages. Cumming committed for a corner after the 100th minute for the 18th-placed visitors at a nervy Hawthorns, but the Baggies broke through Diangana, Bany and finally Swift sealed a routine win.

Albion (4-3-3): Wildsmith; Furlong (c), Ajayi (Holgate, 41), Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt, Price (Swift, 77); Fellows (Diangana, 77), Armstrong (Lankshear, 77), Johnston (Bany, 90). 

Subs not used: Griffiths, Dike, Diakite, Cole. 

Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Kioso, Helik, Brown, Bennett; Brannagan (c), Matos (Vaulks, 63); Placheta, Goodrham, Phillips (Mills, 63); Romeny (Harris, 87). 

Subs not used:  Ingram, Long, El Mizouni, Rodrigues, Ter Avest. 

Attendance:  25,951 (2,525 Oxford fans) 

Referee: Sam Allison