West Brom 2 QPR 0 - Report

The Baggies responded from another unconvincing first half with quickfire goals after the break, firstly via the penalty spot for Brandon Thomas-Asante's first goal in eight appearances after Diangana was hacked down following Jimmy Dunne's red card.

The winger then curled a beauty against the post before he gratefully tapped into an empty net following wonderful work from the impressive Nathaniel Chalobah.

It was the ideal way for Carlos Corberan to mark his one-year anniversary in charge at The Hawthorns as home fans were able to celebrate at the end of what had initially been another edgy, testing night following Saturday's lacklustre draw with Plymouth.

Gareth Ainsworth's hopeless visitors had little ambitious to attack and the contest was over following Dunne's second yellow for arguing a stonewall penalty. The Rs have now lost five in a row and are winless in eight.

Albion, meanwhile, enter the play-off places and climb to fifth.

Corberan opted for just a single change to his starting line-up from the stalemate against the Pilgrims as Okay Yokuslu returned to midfield alongside Chalobah.

It was all change on the bench, though, as injuries continued to bite Corberan and his squad, with Conor Townsend (illness) and Semi Ajayi (minor knock) both missing from the matchday 20.

Tom Fellows had been pushing for a start but the young winger had to make do with a place on the bench again, where he was joined by fellow youngsters Caleb Taylor, Akeel Higgins, Josh Shaw and Layton Love.

For ex-Everton youth left-back Shaw, 20, and Tipton-born striker Love, 18, it was a first taste of senior matchday action.

Ainsworth's strugglers had lost four on the spin but were boosted by the return of lead striker Lyndon Dykes. Kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes due to the Rs team bus arriving late through heavy Birmingham traffic.

It was a subdued start at The Hawthorns though Albion visibly operated with a tweaked formation in which Diangana looked sharp in a more central area. There was particular emphasis on wing-back Matt Phillips and Darnell Furlong, both ex-QPR, in advanced roles.

Diangana created the game's first opening of note from a wide left position. Chalobah was busy early on and fed the winger, whose cross for Thomas-Asante was excellent, only for the striker's first-time effort from 10 yards to lack the required touch.

Albion's sharp 15 minutes tailed off badly. The contest and atmosphere was subdued, once again, as the clash meandered through with little action near either box. The stands were eerily silent, waiting - begging - for a spark on the pitch.

Furlong headed well over from a looped cross from left-sided defender Erik Pieters. It wasn't particularly close but it was as much as excitement as the first period mustered.

Diangana was the most likely to provide some imagination but Albion lacked any sort of confidence or belief in breaking their opposition down. A Furlong long throw - which took an age to be delivered before the interval - was headed well wide by Cedric Kipre.

For the second time in a few days boos rang out around The Hawthorns after a trying first half of little action.

A theme of headed chances flying off-target continued shortly into the second half as Yokuslu headed Phillips' free-kick well over at the back post. It was his last action of the night.

Just shy of the hour, and out of precious little, the priceless breakthrough arrived.

A long ball forward from Kyle Bartley found DIangana. He darted into the box and was too tricky for left wing-back Kenneth Paal, who chopped him down with a poor tackle. To make matters worse for the visitors Dunne was brandished a second yellow card, seconds after a needless first, for protesting.

Thomas-Asante stepped up with a nervous energy around the stadium, but the striker buried his spot-kick high into the roof of the net.

It was lift-off as fans sounded their appreciation and relief. Chalobah danced to the byline shortly after and sent a fine cross begging for a touch, but one didn't come.

Diangana was a lick of post from a wonderful second as he curled against the far post from outside the box. Albion tails were finally up with confidence flowing against the Rs creaking 10 men.

A second arrived 10 minutes after the first and owed much to the influential Chalobah. He waltzed past two flagging defending into the box and an inch-perfect low cross was converted by the grateful Diangana.

QPR continued to throw bodies in front of dangerous Albion shots but it felt like the job was done.

Kipre hobbled off late on as Taylor arrived for his Baggies league bow on a night the hosts hope proves a catalyst moving forward.

Teams

Albion (3-4-3): Palmer; Kipre (Taylor, 86), Bartley, Pieters (Pipa, 86); Furlong, Yokuslu (Mowatt, 54), Chalobah (Molumby, 64). Phillips (Fellows, 74); Wallace (c), Thomas-Asante, Diangana.

Subs not used: Griffiths, Shaw, Higgins, Love.

QPR (3-4-1-2): Begovic; Kakay, Clarke-Salter (Smyth, 45), Dunne; Cannon, Colback, Field, Paal; Dozzell (Armstrong, 71); Dykes, Chair (Willock. 81).

Subs not used: Archer, Dixon-Bonner, Larkeche, Kelman, Duke-McKenna, Adomah.

Attendance: 21,749 (676 QPR fans)

Referee: James Bell