Aston Villa 0-2 West Brom: Baggies come out top in Midlands derby after quickfire double from Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Rodriguez By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sunday Published: 17:00 GMT, 16 February 2019 | Updated: 17:00 GMT, 16 February 2019 Viewcomments 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 Holgate went in high on Andre Green without seeing red. The incident had repercussions after 41 minutes when Holgate produced an excellent cross for Robson-Kanu to head over Villa’s 6ft 7ins goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic who didn’t seem to get off the ground. Jay Rodriguez doubled the visitors' advantage with a clinical strike in the 45th minute Albion added to their tally just before the interval when Rodriguez easily overcame a flimsy challenge by Conour Hourihane and darted forward to play a one-two. The striker’s shot from 18 yards took a deflection off Tommy Elphick and had too much power for Kalinic. The injured Villa ‘keeper didn’t reappear for the second half and neither did Robson-Kanu, who had only just returned from a thigh injury. Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham reacts after missing a chance to score against West Brom The toxic mood inside Villa Park saw the fans cheer the substitution of Hourihane after an hour. The Irishman then suffered the indignity of manager Dean Smith gesturing him to run off faster so youngster Jacob Ramsey didn’t have to wait to be sent on for his debut. Great things are expected of 17-year-old Ramsey whose profile on the Aston Villa website is still listed in the Academy players’ section. Villa did perk up a bit with Johnstone forced into action by Johh McGinn’s shot and Abraham heading wide. But on this occasion it was Albion’s older stalwarts like Gareth Barry who held sway. Barry, 37, started his long career at Villa Park and it was nice to see him applauded by all parts of the ground when he was substituted late on. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility