By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sunday
Published: 17:00 GMT, 16 February 2019 | Updated: 17:00 GMT, 16 February 2019
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West Brom shrugged off the absence of suspended striker Dwight Gayle to maintain their Championship promotion push and leave local rivals Aston Villa without a win in four games.
Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Rodriguez scored in quick succession shortly before half-time to give fourth-place Albion the points in a typically feisty west Midlands derby that featured five bookings.
But Villa boss Dean Smith will be worried about his side’s form having won just once since Boxing Day against bottom club Ipswich.
West Brom striker Hal Robson-Kanu scored the first goal with a header in the 41st minute
Gayle was missing from The Baggies line-up as he started a two-game ban for deceiving the referee with a dive against Leeds on Tuesday night.
Villa had the best early chance when Tammy Abraham failed to beat Albion ‘keeper Sam Johnstone one-against-one but they were left aggrieved when Mason
