PAUL Scharner ensured there was to be no ‘Ba’ Humbug at St James’ Park as Albion claimed their first league win at Newcastle for 34 years.
The Austrian poked home a winner with just four minutes to go to ensure a well-earned victory for Albion.
The Baggies led three times, opening the scoring through Peter Odemwingie.
Demba Ba struck back for Newcastle only for Gareth McAuley to score his first goal in Baggies’ colours. Ba levelled again but his joy – and that of the home side – was shortlived.
A dramatic winner from Scharner ensured the win, although Albion had two brilliant stops from Ben Foster to also be grateful for.
Shane Long and Haris Vuckic both hit the bar during the pre-Christmas thriller, which handed the visitors their first league win on Newcastle territory since 1977.
Jerome Thomas came in for the injured James Morrison, while George Thorne and Marc-Antoine Fortuné, only back from loan spells at Portsmouth and Doncaster, were named on the bench. Somen Tchoyi, last season’s hat-trick hero, was enjoying paternity leave.
Things started badly for Albion, who were forced to make an early change when Steven Reid appeared to damage his knee as he landed awkwardly after jumping with Leon Best to tackle a cross. He soldiered on for a few minutes but clearly couldn’t continue, with Billy Jones coming on in his place.
Albion looked lively early on. Chris Brunt kept his favoured left-wing role with Thomas being moved on to the right side.
It was a brilliant move which led to Albion’s opener in the 20th minute. Nicky Shorey picked out Brunt, whose stunning pass worked its way in between Newcastle’s centre-halves and found Odemwingie. The striker held off the challenge of Fabricio Coloccini and tucked in a low shot past Tim Krul.
Newcastle thought they had levelled when Ba struck a low shot past Foster. Referee Taylor deemed Best to have been in an offside position when he played the ball back.
Yet the hosts did finally hit back 11 minutes before half-time. Gabriel Obertan cut in from the right wing and found his run ended by a clumsy challenge by Thomas. Ba’s free-kick was powerfully struck. Foster went the right way but had little chance.
