Cardiff 2 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

In a drab first-half, both teams struggled to find any rhythm with clear-cut chances proving few and far between.

But after the break, the Baggies shot themselves in the foot twice to hand the hosts victory.

From their own kick-off, Dara O'Shea put the ball out of play with Callum Paterson then scoring in the second phase following a long-throw.

Slaven Bilic's side pulled level moments later when some individual brilliance from Filip Krovinovic earned them a penalty which Charlie Austin converted.

But with 15 minutes to go, they gifted the hosts a second when they lost possession playing out from the back before Matt Phillips gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box.

That was brilliantly curled home by substitute Lee Tomlin - with the result seeing Albion fall off top spot in the Championship where they were replaced by Leeds.

REPORT

Braced for Cardiff to be both physical and direct, Bilic sprung a surprise before kick-off with Dara O'Shea and Nathan Ferguson both named in his starting XI at full-back.

The two academy graduates each began their careers at centre-half.

But after impressing in the role during the win at West Ham, O'Shea retained his place at right-back with Darnell Furlong forced to make do with a place on the bench.

Ferguson - fresh from recovering from a knee injury - started at left-back despite reports Crystal Palace are set to bid for him before the transfer window closes on Friday.

Otherwise, Albion lined up as expected in Bilic's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Filip Krovinovic deputising for the suspended Matheus Pereira in the number 10 role.

Kyle Edwards started on the left-wing with Matt Phillips on the right and Hal Robson-Kanu up top.

Cardiff lined up in the same system with Robert Glatzel the lone striker.

Callum Paterson operated just behind him with Gavin Whyte and Junior Hoilett on the wings.

In what proved to be an uneventful opening 20 minutes, both teams struggled to find any rhythm with clear-cut chances proving few and far between.

It was Cardiff who threatened first with Will Vaulks playing in Glatzel only for the striker to hit a tame effort straight at Sam Johnstone.

For Albion, a Phillips' corner was turned into the path of Jake Livermore.

But he then lashed wide from just inside the box.

Those moments aside, though, there had been little quality on show with the Baggies trying to play out from the back to no avail while the hosts looked at their most threatening with arrowed long-throws into the box.

The football on display was best summed up on the half-hour mark when - following a foul by Kyle Bartley - Cardiff won a free-kick just inches outside the area.

Marlon Pack stood over it but then sent a low drive straight down the middle of the goal which Johnstone easily claimed.

That poor strike enabled Albion to counter with Edwards initially doing well to cut inside and escape his marker.

But despite having time, the winger then ballooned a cross out of play.

Albion did create one decent opportunity before the interval when Edwards did send in a dangerous low cross.

The delivery was initially missed by Phillips. But it fell for O'Shea who then blazed a strike over the bar.

Just seconds after the re-start, though, the hosts were ahead after Albion conceded a truly dreadful goal.

After receiving a pass from Robson-Kanu from the kick-off, O'Shea tried to switch the play but overhit a pass which sailed out for a throw-in.

Vaulks then launched the ball into the box with Bartley failing to deal with it.

That allowed Sean Morrison to turn the ball towards goal with Johnstone producing a smart stop to keep it out.

But the ball then fell kindly for Paterson who smashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

Bilic's side should have levelled when Phillips flew past his man and to the byline.

He then picked out Krovinovic with a low cross. But despite being centrally placed just 10-yards out, the Croatian then fired over when he really should have scored.

Awoken by the goal, Albion and Krovinovic went close again just minutes later when the Benfica loanne hit a low drive straight at Alex Smithies.

With the game now much more open, Bilic made a double change just before the hour mark with Austin and Kenneth Zohore replacing Robson-Kanu and Edwards.

And just moments later the Baggies were level with Krovinovic producing a wonderful bit of skill to lift the ball over the head of Richards before being hacked down in the box by the defender.

Austin then converted from the spot just two minutes after his introduction.

Lifted by the goal, Albion again upped the tempo with Krovinovic almost firing them ahead with a fierce effort from 25-yards that sailed just wide.

It felt as though all the momentum was now with the Baggies.

But in the 75th minute, they gifted Cardiff yet another goal.

After losing possession playing out from the back, Phillips then gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the box.

And substitute Tomlin curled it home beautifully - with the former Peterborough man whipping the ball beyond the reach of Johnstone and into the corner.

Despite there being 15 minutes still to go, Albion created very little as they went in search of a second equaliser.

But they should have got one in time added on when a low Phillips' cross was met by Zohore.

The striker connected with the ball well but a brilliant one-handed stop from Smithies kept the ball out and ensured it was the hosts who grabbed all three points.

Cardiff (4-2-3-1): Smithies, Richards, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Vaulks, Pack, Paterson, Hoilett (Bamba 90), Whyte (Bacuna 82), Glatzel (Tomlin 64).

Subs not used: Etheridge, Flint, Murphy, Mayembe.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone, O'Shea, Bartley (Furlong 77), Hegazi, Ferguson, Livermore, Sawyers, Phillips, Krovinovic, Edwards (Zohore 59), Robson-Kanu (Austin 59).

Subs not used: Bond, Townsend, Brunt, Barry.

Referee: Robert Jones

Attendance: 22,516