Kevin Kilbane and Lee Hughes combined to put Sheffield United's promotion drive on hold at Bramall Lane.

Kilbane struck with a brilliant 30-yard effort to give his side the lead for the second time in the game and a brace from Hughes either side of Kilbane's goal sealed victory for Albion.

The mid-table Baggies were deserved winners, though it took a nightmare howler from United keeper Alan Kelly to put the Midlanders on the road to claiming all three points.

The Republic of Ireland stopper was robbed by Hughes inside his own area as he tried to dribble around the Albion striker and the former Kidderminster hitman slotted the ball into the empty net.

Marcello quickly grabbed an equaliser for the Yorkshiremen but Kilbane's special and Hughes' second of the game wrapped up a rare success for Denis Smith's men.

Graham Stuart had earlier given the Blades the perfect start when he scored his second penalty in seven days to give his side a ninth minute lead, picking himself up off the floor after being felled by Shaun Murphy to fire home past keeper Paul Crichton.

But Stuart's strike was one of only two efforts on target from United in the first-half as they turned in a lack-lustre performance.

Albion, by contrast looked bright and Sean Flynn and Jason Van Blerk both went close before Andy Hunt grabbed a deserved equaliser.

Roger Nilsen was caught in possession by Hughes deep inside the United half and the striker raced down the right before driving the ball into the Blades' goalmouth.

Hunt, Nilsen and Kelly all challenged for the ball and as the rebound looped goalwards, Hunt was first to react to prod home from close range.

United boss Steve Thompson brought on substitutes Paul Devlin and Curtis Woodhouse in an attempt to liven up his side after the break but West Brom, who posed constant threats on the break, took the lead with a freak goal on 65 minutes.

Kelly received a sloppy back pass from Chris Wilder and was put under pressure by Hunt and Hughes.

He was able to beat Hunt but slipped as he tried to evade Hughes and the striker had the simplest of tasks to score and give his side the lead.

Kelly partially atoned for his error with a brilliant double save to deny Hunt and Kilbane before United drew level.

The lively Stuart beat a defender before seeing his low drive parried away by Crichton.

However, the keeper was not able to gather the ball and Dean Saunders and Marcello both had efforts blocked before the Brazilian managed to find the net.

United pressed forward looking for a winner that would have moved them to within a point of sealing a place in the end-of-season play-offs. But West Brom hit them with a late double whammy.

First Kilbane cracked home an unstoppable long-range effort into Kelly's top left-hand corner and then, with the Blades throwing even more men into attack, Hughes beat Vass Borbokis before slotting the ball beneath Kelly.

Marcello and Saunders both went agonisingly close for the hosts in a frantic finale but West Brom were able to hang on and condemn United to defeat.

Teams

Sheff Utd: Kelly, Borbokis, Quinn, Wilder, Nilsen (Devlin 46), Hamilton, Saunders, Marker, Dellas (Woodhouse 57), Marcello, Stuart.

Subs Not Used: O'Connor.

Goals: Stuart 9 pen, Marcello 69.

West Brom: Crichton, McDermott, Van Blerk, Flynn, Murphy, Burgess, Quinn (Sneekes 74), Nicol, Hunt, Hughes (Quailey 84), Kilbane (Potter 84).

Booked: McDermott, Van Blerk, Hughes.

Goals: Hunt 30, Hughes 65, Kilbane 72, Hughes 78.

Att: 21,248

Ref: M E Pierce (Portsmouth).