Ghanaian attacker Brandon Thomas-Asante scored again for West Bromwich Albion as they earned an important 0-2 win at Blackpool in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday night.
Goals either side of half-time from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Taylor Gardner-Hickman were enough to hand the Baggies all three points.
The result sees Carlos Corberán’s men go sixth in the table – at least temporarily – ahead of a clash against fellow play-off chasers Sunderland this Sunday.
The boss made a single change to his XI in Blackpool, with Karlan Grant replacing the injured Daryl Dike.
It was the hosts who made a stronger start, former Baggie Morgan Rogers hitting the post early on.
Yet, after getting through a difficult beginning, Albion were the ones to open the scoring – Conor Townsend flicking John Swift’s corner towards Thomas-Asante, and the striker making no mistake in firing Albion ahead.
Blackpool had chances to find a leveller before the break, most notably when Keshi Anderson shot just wide after they won possession deep in the Baggies half.
Alex Palmer then made a strong stop to deny Rogers’ low finish as half-time approached, ensuring his side were ahead at the midway point.
Albion came out looking to extend their advantage – Grant having a low effort well-saved and Darnell Furlong hammering a volley off-target.
The second did arrive, though, on the hour mark. Substitute Gardner-Hickman was the beneficiary of great work by Thomas-Asante and Swift, as the Academy graduate swept home and doubled his team’s lead.
Blackpool applied late pressure under the Bloomfield Road lights, but the Baggies held firm to claim successive, and crucial, triumphs on the road.
