West Brom 4-1 Ipswich

Rob Hulse struck twice to sink Ipswich

Striker Rob Hulse scored two clinical goals as West Brom maintained their position at the top of Division One with an impressive defeat of Ipswich.

Hulse followed up Thomas Gaardsoe's early opener to finish off the struggling visitors and leave Joe Royle's side bottom of the table after a fourth league defeat of the season.

Gaardsoe - playing against the club he left in the summer - was gifted the chance to score his first Baggies goal with 11 minutes gone, and Richard Naylor's second-half consolation was not enough to hide a dismal performance from Ipswich.

Royle named new signing Chris Bart-Williams in his starting line-up after securing the midfielder on a one-month loan from Charlton, but Town were never in the game during the first half.

Sean Gregan had already forced goalkeeper Kelvin Davis into a decent save with a powerful shot before the Baggies took the lead.

Royle's back line again displayed the problems which have left the club struggling as Gaardsoe was left unmarked to head the opener against his old club.

Bernt Haas' cross into the box was scrambled behind, but Jason Koumas delivered a dangerous corner which Gaardsoe nodded into the net.

Koumas then drove a 30-yard strike narrowly wide, and the intense pressure told again when Hulse claimed his fifth goal of the season after 16 minutes.

Davis could only parry a free-kick from Welsh international Koumas, and more suspect defending left Hulse alone to steer the rebound over the line.

Gaardsoe crashed a shot against the woodwork after fine play from Koumas and Royle replaced Pablo Counago with Darren Bent at the break in an effort to get his team going.

A big thank you to Mr Sheepshanks and Mr Royle for turning our once great club into a laughing stock. From SUFFOLK PUNCH Have your say on 606

But the change made no difference to the woeful visitors, and Hulse struck for the second time to settle the match with 57 minutes gone.

Koumas produced the goods again with another perfect corner which Hulse dispatched with a clinical header.

Ipswich surprised the home crowd by pulling a goal back through Naylor's header and Russell Hoult then blocked a close-range effort from Bent as the visitors briefly threatened a fightback.

But Drissa Diallo headed the ball into his own net to complete Ipswich's nightmare four minutes from time.

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West Brom: Hoult, Haas, Clement, Sigurdsson, Gaardsoe, Volmer, O'Connor, Gregan, Koumas, Hughes, Hulse. Subs: Murphy, Johnson, Dobie, Sakiri, N'Dour.

Ipswich: Davis, Wilnis, Diallo, Naylor, Richards, Wright, Magilton, Bart-Williams, Mahon, Counago, Armstrong. Subs: Santos, Bowditch, Bent, Westlake, Price.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)