A controversial Diomansy Kamara goal and a fantastic strike from Jason Koumas left Town leaving the Hawthorns pointless.

Kamara scored early in the second-half after Sylvain Legwinski had harshly been judged to have handled in the box.

Lewis Price saved the Albion striker's penalty but was beaten by the follow-up. Koumas then wrapped up the points soon after with a superb drive from 25 yards.

Jim Magilton named the same starting line-up for the fourth successive game with Dan Harding having recovered from a head injury.

Town started the better side and controlled much of the midfield battle for the opening 20 minutes with full-backs Alex Bruce and Harding frequently pushing on to support the attack.

It was from a Bruce cross that Town had the first opening of the game, Jon Macken failing to trouble Russell Hoult.

Gary Roberts' weaving run opened up space inside the Albion defence but his shot lacked the power to trouble the 'keeper, then Owen Garvan had the ball in the net from a Bruce cross but was clearly offside.

West Brom's first effort of note came midway through the first-half, Jason Koumas sending a free-kick just over.

The Welsh midfielder was then denied by his international team-mate Price, who turned the Albion player's shot over the bar, referee Clive Penton bizarrely giving a goal-kick.

Kevin Phillips' shot was half blocked by Alex Bruce as Albion began to come more into the game, driven on by their manager, former Town skipper Tony Mowbray.

Roberts went down inside the Albion box but referee Penton waved away any penalty appeals, the official then booking Paul McShane for a foul on Alan Lee, Darren Carter soon following for dissent.

Price did magnificently to prevent an own goal from Jason De Vos after the skipper diverted a Carter corner goalwards with the last chance of the first 45 minutes falling to Macken, who spun and shot just wide after Lee's dummy had set him up.

Kevin Phillips had a great chance to put Albion ahead five minutes after the break when Bruce made a mistake, the former England international going through on goal but Price held firm to force the striker wide.

The home side did get the breakthrough a minute later though, Legwinski harshly adjudged to have handled inside the Town box, the Frenchman booked for his protests. Price kept out Kamara's spot-kick but the Baggie stroked home the rebound.

Albion almost made it two seconds later with Kamara inches away from Koumas' cross as Mowbray's side broke away from a Town corner.

Simon Walton replaced Bruce on the hour in Town's first change but seconds later West Brom should have been two clear when Kamara burst in on goal but took an age to shoot and when he did, hit it straight at Price.

Albion didn't have to wait long for their second goal and Kamara had a hand in it on 67 minutes, feeding Koumas who smashed a fantastic strike past Price from 25 yards.

De Vos went close with a header as Town looked for an immediate response, Blues then sending on Billy Clarke and Danny Haynes in a double substitution, Macken and Roberts making way.

With Clarke and Haynes operating down the flanks, Garvan pushed forward to support Lee and the two linked up well, Lee eventually sending his shot high and wide as the game approached the last 15 minutes.

Clarke set up a chance for Haynes inside the Albion box but the teenager had his effort blocked before Mowbray made his first change, Richard Chaplow for Zoltan Gera on 81 minutes.

Naylor picked up his fourth yellow card of the season for handball, Neil Clement sending the free-kick into the wall. Jonathan Greening was also booked for a foul before Phillips raced through for a great chance to make it three for the Baggies, Price again coming to Town's rescue.

Four minutes of injury time saw no addition to the scoreline, although Lee collected a booking, his eighth of the season.