Hull almost grabbed the lead just three minutes in as Kamil Grosicki cut back on to his right foot and sent over a deep cross which Jarrod Bowen headed back from a tight angle, only to see his effort turned on to the bar by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Grosicki then curled two shots over the bar as Hull started the brighter of the two sides.

Jay Rodriguez volleyed wide from a neat Matt Phillips flick as the visitors finally threatened 10 minutes in. James Morrison fired over as West Brom began to establish themselves in an open and fast-paced game.

With both sides struggling to assert control in what had become a dire midfield struggle a Grosicki free-kick was headed well off target by Reece Burke on the half hour.

Campbell should have done better when Irvine squared the ball along the edge of the area but the striker spooned his left-foot shot over the bar with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

But Campbell made no mistake when he gave the home side the lead three minutes later, firing in off the rebound when an Irvine header came back off the bar at a corner.

Tommy Elphick did well to track and block a Rodriguez shot after 58 minutes as the striker threatened to get his side back into the game.

Irvine’s volley did not really test Johnstone as Hull tried to fashion a second goal and Ahmed Hegazi just cleared from Campbell after Grosicki’s good work and cross presented him with a close range opening.

Substitute Bakary Sako hit a free-kick into the wall and fired the rebound wide as West Brom struggled to find the ideas to unlock the resolute Hull defence.

Grosicki won and took a free-kick which the West Brom defence charged down. The winger’s follow-up and a Bowen shot were also kept out in the same attack as Hull looked the more likely to score the second goal which the game badly needed to liven it up.

But the Tigers had already done enough to claim a valuable victory in their bid to climb away from the wrong end of the table.

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