Ronnie Wallwork capped his return from the cold in dramatic fashion by sealing boss Bryan Robson's first West Brom win at a snowy Hawthorns.

The former Manchester United youngster had been frozen out for over a season by Robson's predecessor Gary Megson and his Baggies future appeared bleak.

But Wallwork repaid Robson's faith by heading an 81st minute goal to see off Manchester City and provide his boss with his first Barclays Premiership win in 12 attempts.

Kevin Campbell had set the rock-bottom Baggies on their way to only their second win of the season by drilling home a low shot after just five minutes of his home debut.

And Albion's success was given raucous acclaim after a dominant performance against Kevin Keegan's out-of-sorts side.

Albion had found themselves under extra pressure before this evening kick-off when results elsewhere conspired to leave them eight points adrift of safety.

And things threatened to get even worse for Robson's beleaguered side when City came close to grabbing the lead with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

Shaun Wright-Phillips cut in from the right and crossed for Antoine Sibierski, who had time to turn in the box and fire a low right-foot shot inches wide of Russell Hoult's left-hand post.

But Albion responded in positive fashion and had already tested the visiting defence with fine crosses through Martin Albrechtsen and Jonathan Greening before Campbell's dramatic early intervention.

Once again it was the impressive Dane Albrechtsen who flung in a deep cross from the right for Campbell to sweep the opening goal past a diving David James.

Finding themselves in the unusual position of having an early lead to protect in such a vital game, Albion looked cool and confident.

Which was more than could be said for Keegan's below-par City, who were jittery at the back and looked like they were the ones battling desperately for Premiership survival points.

Campbell and Robert Earnshaw were finding plenty of space up front to run onto the long balls of Albrechtsen and the hard-working Wallwork.

Sylvain Distin was particularly hesitant and his poor back-pass in the 22nd minute turned into a chance for Earnshaw, who should have shot but instead attempted to lay the ball off to Campbell and saw the danger cleared.

Moments later Earnshaw ought to have got his head to Greening's precise cross as the visiting defence was once again caught out.

Hoult's long goal kick bobbled right through to Earnshaw who found himself clear on goal on the right but blazed his shot high and wide of target.

Sibierski drilled a lot shot wide for City and Robbie Fowler shot low straight at Hoult as the visitors were restricted to half-chances by Albion's tight defending.

Albrechtsen's long balls continued to catch out City's back line and almost sent Earnshaw clean through in the 34th minute.

Albrechtsen raced over the halfway line seven minutes from the break and after his shot was only half-cleared by Distin, Wallwork looped a shot just over James' bar.

Earnshaw almost made it two in the 43rd minute but his close-range effort was held low by James after Zoltan Gera's cross.

City looked a little brighter at the start of the second period and after getting in behind the Baggies defence, Sibierski's cross from the goal-line was held well by Hoult.

Five minutes into the half Fowler bustled through the Albion defence but was held up by his team-mate Jonathan Macken as he shaped to shoot. Hoult got up well to punch away Barton's resulting corner.

Gera's intelligent through ball might have sent the pacey Earnshaw clear in the 56th minute but City 'keeper James read the danger and raced from his goal to clear.

City began to increase the pressure with Fowler set up with a fine chance by Macken only to let the ball run straight into the arms of a grateful Hoult.

But only James could deny Albion a second in the 62nd minute when Greening's superb looping shot from just inside the box looked goal-bound until the stretching 'keeper tipped it over the bar.

Wallwork headed inches wide of goal in the 75th minute after a fine cross by Campbell as Albion continued to press.

Six minutes later he got the goal his performance deserved to virtually seal a priceless win for Robson.

He stooped to head home from point-blank range after substitute Horsfield had knocked back Greening's left-wing cross.

City's bleak evening was summed up two minutes later when Richard Dunne blasted home a powerful free-kick only for referee Graham Poll to order the set-piece re-taken for an apparent infringement.

Teams

West Brom Hoult, Albrechtsen, Purse, Clement, Robinson, Gera, Scimeca, Wallwork, Greening, Earnshaw (Horsfield 57), Campbell (Gaardsoe 90).

Subs Not Used: Contra, Kanu, Kuszczak.

Booked: Robinson, Gera.

Goals: Campbell 5, Wallwork 81.

Man City James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski (McManaman 68), Macken (Bradley Wright-Phillips 67), Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Sommeil, Onuoha, Waterreus.

Att: 25,348

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).