Steve Howard's second-half hat-trick moved Leicester out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone and dealt a huge blow to 10-man West Brom's automatic promotion hopes at The Hawthorns.

Howard scored from the penalty spot in the 59th minute before converting crosses from Lee Hendrie and Barry Hayles to seal a precious three points for Ian Holloway's troubled side.

It was all square at 1-1 at half-time after Gareth McAuley cancelled out Robert Koren's opening goal for Albion.

Koren gave the Baggies the lead in the 22nd minute when he was given time and space 25 yards out. The Slovenia international made the most of it to fire a low shot into the bottom corner for his first goal of 2008.

But it was all downhill from there for a Baggies side that included four changes from the midweek draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

One of those recalled players, Luke Moore, was deservedly shown a straight red card by referee Darren Deadman in the 35th minute after a late challenge on Richard Stearman.

Three minutes later McAuley scored Leicester's first goal for four league matches to bring the visitors level.

It was just reward for Leicester as Koren's goal arrived somewhat against the run of play after the Foxes had several efforts at goal.

Hayles saw two goalbound shots blocked by Leon Barnett inside the opening 10 minutes before Matty Fryatt volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the area soon after.

Matt Oakley's shot from 20 yards out went wide in the 16th minute.

West Brom started to come into the game after that and forced the corner from which would eventually see them open the scoring.

A minute after Moore's dismissal Dean Kiely produced a fine save to tip Fryatt's 18-yard volley over the crossbar to preserve Albion's lead, but McAuley equalised from the resulting corner.

Paul Henderson palmed Paul Robinson's close-range shot over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time to keep the scores level at the break.

West Brom started the second half brightly despite their numerical disadvantage but in a reversal of fortunes from the first half, it was Leicester who this time scored against the run of play.

Joe Mattock led a break down the left-hand side and delivered a low cross into the box.

Hendrie reacted quickest to get in front of Jonathan Greening before going to ground under a challenge from the Albion captain.

Deadman pointed to the spot and Howard placed the penalty high and to the right of Kiely.

Howard beat Kiely to Hendrie's cross to poke home his second goal of the game from 12 yards out in the 79th minute.

The former Derby striker completed his hat-trick four minutes from time when he beat Kiely with a low shot from the edge of the area following good work by Hayles.

Only a fine save from Kiely to thwart Hayles in the second minute of injury-time prevented a heavier defeat for the Baggies.

Teams:

West Brom Kiely, Martis, Barnett, Albrechtsen, Robinson, Gera (Pele 62), Koren, Greening, Kim (MacDonald 62), Bednar (Phillips 69), Moore.

Subs Not Used: Danek, Miller.

Sent Off: Moore (35).

Booked: Kim, Robinson.

Goals: Koren 22.

Leicester Henderson, Stearman, Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley, Mattock, Fryatt, Oakley (Wesolowski 83), Hendrie (Etuhu 88), Hayles, Howard (Hume 89).

Subs Not Used: James Chambers, Campbell.

Booked: Howard, Hendrie, Hayles, Oakley.

Goals: McAuley 38, Howard 59 pen, 79, 86.

Att: 22,038

Ref: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire).