West Bromwich Albion 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Late goals punish ten-man Spurs

Updated: December 28, 2008, 4:24 PM UK

Late goals from Roman Bednar and Craig Beattie gave West Brom a deserved 2-0 victory over a poor Tottenham side who played 55 minutes with 10 men.

• Pulis has no excuses for "volatile" Fuller

The hosts dominated with their numerical advantage, as they had done before left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto's dismissal, but they struggled to force the breakthrough.

But seven minutes from time Bednar headed home a long punt into the box to give the Baggies only their fifth league victory of the season.

Substitute Beattie stabbed home a second in injury time.

West Brom began brightly when Marek Cech burst through the middle from left-back and released James Morrison on the right but no-one was able to meet his drilled cross into the six-yard area.

Leon Barnett's foul on Aaron Lennon gave David Bentley a free-kick opportunity 35 yards out but he chose to roll the ball into the channel and Darren Bent could not get a shot on goal.

In the 14th minute Michael Dawson was booked for bringing down Luke Moore on the edge of the penalty area and Borja Valero's free-kick forced Heurelho Gomes into a low save to his left.

Gianni Zuiverloon had to be alert to block Bent's shot from Luka Modric's ball inside, with the Spurs striker firing low at goalkeeper Scott Carson moments later.

In the 23rd minute Jonas Olsson headed over Chris Brunt's inswinging right-wing free-kick as the hosts continued to have the better of the play.

Morrison was booked for barging Modric off the ball in the 28th minute but the visitors were still second best in most areas.

Bent went down in apparent agony clutching his knee in the 33rd minute but all Spurs were given was a throw in as the striker had clearly thrown himself over the challenge of Olsson near the left touchline.

Two minutes later referee Steve Tanner had no hesitation in showing a straight red card to Assou-Ekotto after he seemed to go over the top in a challenge on Zuiverloon, although television replays suggested the tackle was not as dangerous as it first appeared.

Didier Zokora dropped back to fill the hole with playmaker Modric forced to play a more withdrawn role, leaving Bent up front on his own.

Three minutes before half-time Cech's 25-yard strike was deflected off Vedran Corluka's head for a corner but the Baggies could not take advantage.

Brunt was then booked for a lunge at Lennon even though he failed to make contact with the player.

Three minutes into the second half Jermaine Jenas fouled Valero just outside the penalty area but Brunt's curling left-foot effort was finger-tipped over by Gomes.

Zuiverloon then cut in on to his left foot to test the Spurs keeper but slipped as he struck the ball and Gomes parried it away.

Brunt had another half-chance in the 55th minute from Corluka's poor clearance but he blazed well over from outside the area.

And Bednar should have done better moments later when he failed to get any touch on Cech's hanging cross despite breaking clear of the defence.

Zuiverloon was booked for tripping Bentley on the corner of the penalty area but the former Blackburn midfielder curled the free-kick straight into the arms of Carson.

Graham Dorrans replaced Brunt in the 65th minute as manager Tony Mowbray sought to find a way through Tottenham's stubborn resistance.

Zuiverloon continued to be a profitable outlet down the right and Dawson was forced to concede a corner from the Dutchman's cross-shot.

Gomes was called into action again when Dorrans' shot into the ground bounced up and the goalkeeper had to tip over.

The breakthrough finally came in the 83rd minute when Bednar rose above the Spurs defence to head a long punt out of defence past Gomes.

Beattie added a second in injury time when he stabbed home after the Spurs defence were exposed by Cech's burst forward.

However, despite their win the Baggies remain bottom of the table and are going to have to do much better when presented with similar opportunities in the future if they are to survive in the top flight.

Pulis has no excuses for "volatile" Fuller

Stoke manager Tony Pulis described Ricardo Fuller as a ''volatile player and person'' after the striker was sent off for fighting with a team.

''There's no condoning what (Fuller's) done,'' said Pulis. ''He's walked up to Griff and clipped him on the chin and it's disappointing. I'll talk to them both and deal with it on Monday.

''Ric is a volatile player and a volatile person and what he's done will be dealt with. The pair get on well together but I've said to the lads we'll have a meeting on Monday to sort it out.

''There are always incidents on the pitch and in training. The game is passionate and it's nothing I haven't seen before. Ric was already on the bus when we came in and he's very disappointed with what he did and his reaction.''

Pulis criticised the fact West Ham's 86th-minute was allowed to stand, claiming Diego Tristan was offside as he deflected in Cole's shot.

''I've seen it on TV and the lad's offside for the second goal so it's disappointing,'' he added.

''I don't think (Thomas) Sorensen had a save to make in the second half. ''We are also disappointed with the two challenges from Luis Boa Morte in the first half. The second one particularly was very poor and he didn't get booked.

''There were challenges today that our players have got booked for and their players haven't. I'm just asking for fairness, nothing more.''