Magpies too good for Baggies

London - Ayoze Perez's moment of individual brilliance has provided the catalyst for Newcastle's 2-0 win away to West Browmich Albion on Sunday as the Magpies moved into the top half of the Premier League after a fifth straight victory in all competitions.

The striker's third goal in as many games saw him break the deadlock at the Hawthorns on the stroke of half-time with an outrageous backheel past stranded Baggies goalkeepeer Ben Foster.

Fabricio Coloccini's second-half header secured victory for Alan Pardew's side, who've now won their last four league games.

But this result dropped West Brom down into 13th place following a match where 10 million ($16 million, 12.8 million euros) club-record signing Brown Ideye was again not in the Midlands club's matchday squad.

For Newcastle, Perez started while Papiss Cisse, struggling with a knee injury, was on the bench.

Meanwhile Remy Cabella and Massadio Haidara replaced the injured Gabriel Obertan and Steven Taylor respectively.

Sammy Ameobi nearly opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 10th minute when his curling shot clipped the crossbar.

Six minutes later, the Baggies had their first chance when new England call-up Saido Berahino had a shot pushed over the top by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Berahino combined with strike partner Victor Anichebe in the 27th minute but the Nigeria forward was denied by Paul Dummett on the edge of the box.

Perez opened the scoring in spectacular style shortly before half-time when he turned in a cross from the impressive Daryl Janmaat with a sublime backheel.

It was a rare piece of skill in a mundane match but there was no denying that Newcastle deserved to double their lead in the 62nd minute when Coloccini headed in another fine cross from Janmaat.

Andre Wisdom could have made the closing 11 minutes a nervous time for Newcastle when the West Brom defender, on loan from Liverpool, was left with just Krul to beat following a pass from Anichebe.

However, Wisdom took a touch and then shot wastefully wide from six yards out.

That miss marked the end of Albion's bid to salvage a draw and they were lucky not to lose 3-0, with Foster doing well to deny Perez a second goal four minutes from time.