WEST BROM: Zuberbuhler, Albrechtsen, McShane (Sent off 32), Perry, Robinson, Koumas, Greening, Carter, Gera (Chaplow 79), Phillips, Hartson (Kamara 46). Subs: Nicholson, Hoult, Hodgkiss.
UNITED: Warner, Kelly (Stone 46), Butler, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Nicholls (Westlake 53), Derry, Lewis (Moore 70), Healy, Horsfield. Subs: Sullivan, Foxe.
Referee: Rob Styles
After the whirlwind drama of his first game at the helm, caretaker manager John Carver watched a somewhat quieter opening to proceedings of his second game at The Hawthorns.
Geoff Horsfield lifted an early shot over the top and Tony Warner was called upon to save a Jonathan Greening shot before a flag was raised for offside.
But there was little in the opening 15 minutes to get too excited about with West Brom enjoying the lion's share of possession while Leeds looked to soak up the early pressure and move the ball quickly on the break.
United's first decent opportunity came on 19 minutes, though, when Jonathan Douglas headed at Baggies goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler after a good delivery from Stephen Crainey.
Moments later. Kevin Nicholls also tested the keeper with a header following good work by Shaun Derry as United threatened to use the ball to good effect.
Yet, while Leeds started to settle, it was the home side who almost the snatched the lead. Martin Albrechtsen whipped in a cross from the right and Warner had to be at his best to deny John Hartson with a full-stretch save.
Jason Koumas, who scored twice against Leeds last season while on loan at Cardiff, also tried his luck from distance with a shot that went fizzing wide of Warner's far post.
But United had a golden opportunity to take the lead on 33 minutes when referee Rob Styles reduced the hosts to 10 men and awarded Leeds a penalty.
Crainey sent Horsfield through on goal and Baggies defender Paul McShane was immediately red-carded for a clumsy challenge on the striker. David Healy duly stepped up in the hope of converting his fourth spot-kick of the season, but his low penalty was wide of the upright.
And the home side made United pay almost immediately. Jason Koumas picked out Albrechtsen with a corner and the Baggies full-back duly headed past a beaten Warner to put West Brom in front on 40 minutes.
United responded swiftly, though, and Derry found himself booked after taking a tumble under pressure in the West Brom box.
The caretaker boss was forced into re-shuffling his pack at half-time when Gary Kelly was unable to continue due to injury. Steve Stone came off the subs bench with Douglas dropping to right back.
But worse was to come when Nicholls went down under a challenge from Darren Carter just eight minutes into the second half and left the field on a stretcher.
And to compound United's frustrations, West Brom went further in front on 65 minutes courtesy of substitute Diomansy Kamara. Kevin Phillips released Carter on the Baggies left and his low cross was bundled over by Kamara from close range.
The hosts thought they should have had the opportunity to go 3-0 up moments later when Phillips went down in the area, but referee Rob Styles was unmoved and booked the former Sunderland man for diving. Kamara was also booked for protesting as the contest threatened to get out of hand.
The game was effectively over with 12 minutes remaining, though, when West Brom did add a third goal. Kamara was allowed to weave his way through the United defence before feeding Phillips with the easiest of chances from close range.
United did pull a goal back moments later, Horsfield drilling a low shot past Zuberbuhler, but with just eight minutes left on the clock, it appeared little more than a consolation.
Amazingly, United pulled a second goal back with 90 seconds remaining. Horsfield was again involved when he clipped the post and Stone was the man to capitalise when he fired home from close range.
But as United threw everyone forward in seach of an equaliser, Albion, with the game now in added time, broke away and Phillips fed Kamara who chipped the ball over Warner for Albion's fourth goal.
