Analysis: Alan Pardew's burgeoning relationship with West Brom fans bodes well

At other points in his career, Albion’s head coach has probably found himself under pressure following a run of two wins in 10 games.

But there is something positive brewing at The Hawthorns, and Pardew deserves a lot of credit for it, as do the fans.

After plenty of near misses and promising performances in recent weeks, the Baggies finally ended their 20-game winless streak in the Premier League, and the outpouring of emotion was huge.

Five minutes before full-time, Pardew was whipping up the crowd, urging them to roar their team over the line.

As the new cardboard clappers twinkled in all corners of the stadium, the fans duly obliged.

The new additions were derided on social media beforehand, but it’s hard to argue against the impact they made to sections of the crowd that usually aren’t as vocal as others.

It’s easy to be snobby about such things, but as Dave Bowler, the man behind Albion’s award-winning programme pointed out, they are essentially just a modern-day rattle.

Even though the initial idea came from Chief Executive Martin Goodman, Pardew was also involved in the decision.

Considering the position the club find themselves in, anything that could potentially help is worth trying.

Because this was as close to a must-win league game in January as there could be.

Lose, especially after that morale-boosting win at Exeter City, and the dent in confidence would be huge.

So the players deserve credit for handling the pressure too. There were too many strong performances to mention, but to a man, their insatiable hunger to win was evident. Nobody shied away from the fight.

Those that weren’t there may have seen the highlights and thought this was Albion reverting to type, reverting to Tony Pulis.

Two headed goals from defenders at corners proved the difference. But the Baggies threatened from open play, they zipped the ball around with confidence, and passed it with purpose.

Anyway, it’s Pardew who deserves credit for the set pieces.

He changed them up in midweek, ditching the whipped inswinging corner that has had little impact this season in favour of the drilled effort towards the near post for flick-ons.

It worked immediately, and the way Jonny Evans celebrated his goal shows how much the Baggies still matter to him, even if he is destined for the exit door either this window or the next.

Whatever happens for the rest of January, this victory has restored hope. It keeps the Baggies in touch with those above them, and hints at similar performances to come.

It’s worth remembering Pulis won round the fans in his first half-season at the club.

But thanks to the football Pardew plays, there are tentative signs that his relationship with them could last longer.

He’s said all the right things since his arrival, and Saturday’s game proved the fans have taken to him.

But as the man himself admitted after, it’s only so long you can talk the talk, eventually you have to walk the walk.

It’s only two wins, of course, one against a League Two side and one against a Brighton team woeful on the road. Albion are still 19th, and there’s a long way to go this season. It would be naive to get carried away.

But the atmosphere at The Hawthorns on Saturday and the way the fans have embraced Pardew suggests that even though the second half of the season is likely to be a slog for survival, it could be a lot of fun. That’s all anyone ever wanted.