Bristol City vs West Bromwich Albion match report: Baggies blushes spared as Salomon Rondon ends his goal drought to see off Robins

Bristol City 0 West Bromwich Albion 1: Venezuelan breaks deadlock eight minutes into second half to set up meeting with Peterborough

Salomon Rondon’s first goal since October sent West Bromwich into the FA Cup fourth round (Getty Images)

Salomon Rondon repaid another chunk of West Bromwich Albion’s record transfer fee as he broke Bristol City’s stubborn resistance to take the Premier League side into the FA Cup fourth round.

The Venezuelan, who cost £12m from Zenit St Petersburg last summer, had scored just three times in the league before this match.

But Albion manager Tony Pulis was grateful for the imposing forward’s composure as he broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half and set up a meeting with Peterborough.

For managerless City it was a dogged performance for no reward as they continue to hunt for a successor to the sacked Steve Cotterill.

West Brom fielded close to their strongest starting XI, although out-of-favour striker Saido Berahino was absent through illness, and they made a positive start when winger James McClean powered his way down the left flank.

He found himself inside the penalty area but his shot from a tight angle found the side netting as it failed to trouble Max O’Leary, making his first start for Bristol City in goal.

But the home side found their feet early on despite a host of changes from interim management pair John Pemberton and Wade Elliott.

They left out several Championship regulars but their team made a confident start and West Brom striker Victor Anichebe had to track back 50 yards to halt a run by Bobby Reid.

Then Scott Wagstaff found space on the Bristol left to deliver a cross but it was too close to Ben Foster in the West Brom goal.

City continued to make the running and they should have led in the 14th minute when Wes Burns burst through a square West Brom back four to collect a clever through-ball from Reid.

The visitors suffered an early blow when left-back Chris Brunt limped off injured, to be replaced by Sebastien Pocognoli, who was making just his third appearance under Pulis.

That decision brought ironic acclaim for the popular Belgian from the travelling Albion fans, who have long been puzzled by his exile from the first team.

West Brom had the next effort at goal when a diagonal ball from Gareth McAuley was cleared as far as Craig Gardner, who sent a left-footed half-volley just wide.

Anichebe tried his luck as West Brom tried to play their way out of the mire of a poor game but the striker’s shot on the turn six minutes from half-time flew wide of the target.

They should really have led two minutes later, however, when a volley from Gardner bounced into the ground and sat up for McAuley, only for the veteran defender to head over from five yards.

The hosts then had a chance to test Foster on the stroke of half-time when Claudio Yacob tripped Burns on his way to goal, but Luke Freeman sent the resulting free-kick harmlessly wide.

Early in the second half Anichebe should have given West Brom the lead when he peeled away from his marker to collect a clever pass from Stéphane Sessègnon. But the striker’s poor first touch took him too wide and he failed to trouble O’Leary in the City goal.

However, Rondon finally broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with a moment of composure in a frenetic game.

He produced good chest control to make the most of a Craig Dawson cross before keeping his cool to prod the ball past O’Leary.

West Brom appeared to have taken control but ought to have been pegged back just after the hour when Burns crossed for an unmarked Aaron Wilbraham, who headed over from close range.

The home side went close to an equaliser with 14 minutes remaining when Burns hit a powerful shot that looked destined for the bottom corner before Dawson got a crucial touch to divert it for a corner.

Then Foster recovered well to block a Burns shot after dropping the winger’s cross.

Man of the match Evans.

Match rating 6/10.

Referee J Moss (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance 15,185.