Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and thanks for joining our live text commentary as West Brom look to crown Tony Pulis's first Premier League game in charge with victory over Hull City. I'm Shane and I'll be guiding you through every kick at The Hawthorns today. Kick of the ball, that is - I'm not suggesting Pulis's teams are overly physical.

This fixture would've been the runt of the litter on gameweek 21 of the Premier League season just a couple of weeks ago, the one that is shown last on Match of the Day because, well, it's not a glamour tie, is it? However, certain events and results over the past fortnight might just make this a better game than it once seemed. Let's look at a few reasons why:

Firstly, Pulis's arrival in the West Midlands looks to have reinvigorated the Baggies, who hosted lowly Gateshead in the FA Cup last week and emerged as 7-0 winners, with Saido Berahino netting FOUR of them. We know it's "only Gateshead" but it's difficult to quantify how important a seven-goal rout is for a team who had been seriously struggling under Alan Irvine. It was a timely morale-boost, and we might see the positive effects of that drubbing here today.

Secondly, Hull aren't a bad side these days it seems and, despite Albion's 7-0 victory, they'll come into this one with a lot of confidence after winning two of their last three Premier League games. They lost 2-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup last week, sure, but Steve Bruce won't have lost too much sleep over that because it is games like today which might just make or break their season. It's huge.

The Tigers beat fellow strugglers Sunderland 3-1 on Boxing Day for what was their first win since October 4, before beating Everton 2-0 at the KC Stadium six days later; two massive victories and they have to believe that they can follow up those victories here this afternoon. Thirdly, and finally, this one is certainly a relegation six-pointer, and those games often throw up something decent.

Yep, West Brom sit just one point above the relegation zone in 17th, while Steve Bruce's side find themselves two points clear in 15th. In fact, only six points seperates bottom-placed Leicester City from Sunderland in 14th. It's going to be a very, very tight relegation battle, which is why both these sides simply have to take points off each other when possible.

Right, I've got a bit of team news for you to chew on, my friends, but first check out what the lads down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this one. Ah go on.

WEST BROM XI: Foster, Wisdom, McAuley, Lescott, Baird, Yacob, Morrison, Brunt, Sessegnon, Berahino, Ideye

HULL XI: McGregor, Figueroa, Bruce, Davies, Chester, Elmohamady, Meyler, Livermore, Quinn, Jelavić, Hernández

WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill, Pocognoli, Dawson, Gardner, Dorrans, Anichebe, Samaras

HULL SUBS: Harper, Huddlestone, Brady, Maguire, McShane, Dawson, Ince

Right, we'll start with the Baggies and it looks like Pulis names five changes from that 7-0 demolition of poor old Gateshead. Brown Ideye returns to displace Victor Anichebe and partner in-form Saido Berahino up front, while Claudio Yacob replaces Graham Dorrans to join Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Stephane Sessegnon in midfield.

Two changes from the back four from last week as Craig Dawson and Sebastien Pocognoli make way for Joleon Lescott and Andre Wisdom respectively, while Boaz Myhill drops to the bench for Ben Foster between the sticks and that's your lot from West Brom!

Five changes is quite a lot, but Bruce makes EIGHT changes to his first XI, with only Curtis Davies, Maynor Figueroa and Stephen Quinn retaining their place following last week's defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez return to spearhead the attack at the expense of Sone Aluko and Yannick Sabgo. In midfield, Thomas Ince, Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Brady make way for Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore and David Meyler.

Then you've got two changes in defence, with James Chester and Alex Bruce coming back into the team for Harry Maguire and Paul McShane, while Allan McGregor starts in goal ahead of Steve Harper.

Who can both sides look to for a bit of goalscoring inspiration then? We'll start with the Baggies, and it has to be Saido Berahino, who might just be coming into a bit of form after netting no fewer than FOUR times last week. He netted in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United a week previous, but beside that he hadn't scored since way back on October 25. He's due a purple patch, and he might just get it playing under Pulis.

What about the Tigers? Well, Nikica Jelavic has netted two in his last three games to bring his total for the season to six goals in 14 Premier League starts. Pulis's sides are famed for their rugged defending, and the Baggies back four will need to be at their best to keep him quiet.

One man who could be on his way to Hull to rival Jelavic is Arsenal's Yaya Sanogo, the 21-year-old Frenchman who has found first-team chances limited at the Emirates this season. Steve Bruce has openly stated his interest in signing him, while midfielder Tom Huddlestone has also thrown his weight behind the move, describing the young striker as 'very impressive'. I'm an Arsenal fan myself, and he must be confusing Sanogo for somebody else.

DID YOU KNOW? West Brom have played more Premier League games against Hull without finding a victory more than any other team? Yep, the hosts are winless in five attempts against City, with the visitors winning three and drawing two of those.

PREDICTION! Right, so we're about eight minutes from kickoff, so let's wet our whistles with a pre-match prediction, shall we? Why not, and I'm punting for a comfortable 2-0 home win. I think we'll see further examples of the Pulis effect, with a solid defensive performance to compliment goals in either half from, say, Berahino and Ideye. Yep, that's how it'll pan out.

Right, both sets of players are on the field and we're listening to that dreadful Premier League anthem. Thankfully, kickoff isn't too far away now.

KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at The Hawthorns, my friends. West Brom, playing in their usual white kit, get us underway. Let's go!

Looks like Saido Berahino is playing just off Brown Ideye at the minute. It's a big day for the Nigerian, who is yet to really do the business for the Baggies.

SHOT! We've seen our first shot of the afternoon, and it's Hull as left-back Maynor Figueroa - making his first start of the season - ventures forward and tries his luck with an audacious long-range shot, but it whistles wide.

Very little to note so far. It's all very tactical, with West Brom, playing 4-4-2 it seems, happy enough to let Hull see a lot of the ball.

Nine minutes in and the West Brom fans participate in the customary applause in memory of Jeff Astle.

Hull much the better team so I think; they've had the only shot, which was never going in, but they've absolutely bossed the possession stakes thus far. It's a risky game letting them have this much of the ball because, despite not being very good with it in recent weeks, they've got Hernandez and Jelavic up front!

Incidentally, Tony Pulis is wearing some pristine condition trainers. They're like he took them out of the box directly before kick off. In contrast, his team have looked anything but fresh so far unfortunately.

CHANCE! It's taken about 18 minutes but we've finally had a chance, and it's Albion. Berahino exchanges a neat one-two with Sessegnon, but the 13-goal striker, after wandering into the box, could only stab narrowly wide of the far post. Big chance that.

They haven't really built on that chance a few minutes ago, however, and it's all Hull again, but West Brom comfortably repelling everything that comes their way.

Hull forward Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez have seen so little of the ball so far. Between them I estimate they've had around six touches in 24 minutes. If we are seeing the Pulis effect in action then it's been in defence because they've been very strong.

SHOT! Make that seven touches between them, as the ball bounces nicely for Hernandez, who tries to lob Ben Foster from around 35 yards and, unsurprisingly, it floats into row-z.

West Brom prepare to swing in the first corner of the game now after Brown Ideye saw his cross thwarted by Alex Bruce, but Figueroa gets is away relatively comfortably. No team has scored more set-piece goals than Albion this season, so corners are definitely an avenue for the hosts.

SHOT! We've seen our first shot on target and it's Berahino again, as the young striker shimmies to make room for himself amid pressure from Bruce, but he gets his shot away and it's saved by McGregor.

SUB: We've had our first corner and first shot on target in recent minutes, and now we've got our first sub as striker Nikica Jelavic gingerly makes his way off the field to be replaced by Robbie Brady. That'll upset Steve Bruce, having to change things so early.

BOOKING: First corner, first shot on target, first sub, and now we've got our first booking as Claudio Yacob flattens Brady moments after coming on. Maybe we'll see our first goal soon? Hopefully, because this one needs livening up.

Apart from Burnley's clash with QPR, it's goalless in every other Premier League game, too.

Oh dear. Having just lost striker Jelavic to injury, it looks like Bruce might be losing his other striker as Abel Hernandez sits on the grass, clutching his thigh. Send the chopper for Sanogo asap!

SUB: Yep, Hernandez makes way for Thomas Ince and Hull have no recognised striker on the pitch. When it rains it pours.

CHANCE!!! Oh my word. Brown Ideye, clean through one-on-one with McGregor, scuffs completely wide following Berahino's brilliant through ball. Shocking.

Nearly a chance for Hull, with Meyler swinging the ball into the box, but Ben Foster is well off his line to thwart Thomas Ince. That's probably that as far as first-half chances go.

So, there we have it. It's been a rather dull half it must be said, with Hull losing BOTH of their strikers to injury in seperate incidents as Jelavic and Hernandez both went off.

It could, and most definitely should, be 1-0 to West Brom, however. They've had all the best chances, but one in particular really should've been converted, only for record signing Brown Ideye to scuff wide in a one-on-one with Allan McGregor. Very poor finish.

Let's hope the second half throws up more talking points because it's set up to be the bore draw that it looked like being before kickoff - though I punted for a 2-0 home win. Am I sticking by it? Of course. Five minutes left until the restart so pop the kettle on and meet me back here in a few. Milk, two sugars. Cheers.

RESTART: Aaaaaaaaand we're back underway at The Hawthorns. Hull, playing without a recognised striker remember, kick us off once more. Here's to hoping we see a bit more goal-mouth action.

West Brom, who were a little late returning to the field, haven't really started this half at all. It's been all Hull City, but as we saw in the first half, they're asking very few questions in the final third.

Berahino has been at the heart of everything West Brom created this afternoon, and the youngster fizzes an excellent ball across the face of goal but nobody was on hand to tap home the opener. Ideye, for whatever reason, decided to wait for the cut-back instead of loitering at the back post.

Really good delivery from Stpehen Quinn, who fizzes a fine cross into the box with that left boot of his, but there's nobody in there. Forget playing without a recognise striker; they're playing without a striker full stop!

Comedian Frank Skinner is among the celebrities inside The Hawthorns I believe. He'd do well to squeeze some light-hearted material out of this, which is a bit depressing actually. Both teams are so afraid to lose that it's impairing their judgement when going forward.

James Morrison catches David Meyler in possession before bursting forward in attack, but it ultimately came to nothing as Hull eventually snuffed out the danger. Moments of real urgency like that are few and far between thus far.

SAVE! This is a good save by Foster under plenty of pressure, as Robbie Brady curls a really deep ball into the box from a free kick, but Foster commands the area well and takes the catch.

We're going to see another West Brom corner now after Chester blocked Berahino's surging run. Let's see what this amounts to...

Nope. It comes to nothing. Morrison plays it short to Baird, who tries to hook it goalward but the danger is snuffed out.

SHOT! How does Livermore manage those shots? The ex-Spurs midfielder has taken aim from range and it's literally nearly gone out of the stadium. He got such ridiculous loft and velocity on that shot, and I've seen him do it a few times.

SUB: Looks like Victor Anichebe is ready to come on for West Brom. Surely it's Brown who will be coming off? He hasn't been bad in fairness, despite a shocking miss, but he's not done enough.

Anichebe's only got one goal this season, so he hasn't exactly been setting the word alight, but he'll do a job for the next 20 minutes or so.

SUB: Another sub now as Craig Gardner replaces Sessegnon for the final 15 minutes. Not his best game.

INDIRECT FREE KICK: We don't see these too often, do we? Elmohamady is penalised for a pass-back with McGregor, and Gardner is going to hit it. Let's see...

Oh what is McGregor feeling now? Berahino scores from that indirect free kick after McGregor picked up Elmohamady's back-pass? He rifles home Anichebe's tee-up. Huge goal.

Can Hull respond to that then? Probably not, no. They've got no strikers for starters, and nobody playing up front, so they're without a striker and recognised striker. Madness.

SUB: Last roll of the dice for Hull and Steve Bruce, who replace Quinn with Tom Huddlestone for the last seven minutes or so. He's not the ideal candidate to bring on when you're losing a game, is he?

Berahino has been brilliant all day. He looks to be benefiting hugely from the change in personnel at The Hawthorns, with Alan Irvine often playing him wide toward the end of his spell. He's a man really in form now again.

Three minutes left for Hull to salvage something, and unfortunately it's just not going to happen I don't think. They've been so poor in this second half and literally created nothing of note, and that's not going to change in the next few minutes.

Aaaaaaaaaand that's it! The Baggies get the Tony Pulis era underway with a narrow, yet deserved 1-0 win at home to an apathetic Hull City, who lost both strikers Abel Hernandez and Nikica Jelavic to injury in separate first-half incidents.

It was anything but pretty, but Pulis won't care. The road to recovery starts here for the Baggies. That's all we've got for you this evening. I hope you've enjoyed our coverage and we'll see you again I'm sure. Enjoy your weekend, folks.