Craig Gardner celebrates scoring the winner for West Brom
The West Brom midfielder, who has been upsetting everyone at Villa Park since quitting the club for arch-rivals Birmingham, ended the Baggies’ run of five matches without a win by netting in the 72nd minute against 10-man Villa.
And his first Premier League goal in 14 months couldn’t have been more valuable to his latest Midlands club.
Stephane Sessegnon’s goal-bound shot hit team-mate Brown Ideye and Gardner was first to react to drill the rebound home.
The Baggies had been given a big boost when Villa’s Kieran Richardson was shown a straight red card after 21 minutes for diving in on Sessegnon.
Gardner, who celebrated his first Albion goal by heading straight for his manager Alan Irvine, said: “The gaffer was brilliant at half-time and told us what to do. I’m delighted for him because he’s taken a bit of flak.”
Managers reaction after West Brom beat ten-man Villa [AMBIENT]
Irvine added: “He’s been a great pro since and he’s been desperate to score, it will mean so much to him to have got that goal.
“I’m relieved we have managed to get that win that we have probably deserved in other games recently.”
Villa boss Paul Lambert had no complaints about Richardson’s red card, admitting: “I can see why he sent him off.
“His second touch, he overhit it, and in the modern game I can see why the referee has given him a card.”
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