Baggies boss is happy... but no ‘Dad moves’

strongest side – although defender Jonny Evans was missing with a foot injury – and was rewarded instantly.

The game had barely kicked off when Exeter defender Dan Seaborne failed to properly clear James McClean’s cross, and Rondon fired a precision shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.

It was to be the first of two key mistakes by Seaborne, the 30-year-old defender who once worked under Pardew at Southampton.

With 25 minutes gone, he failed to clear the ball after defensive partner Troy Archibald-Henville’s weak header, leaving Rodriguez with a chance he couldn’t miss.

Albion should have wrapped it up from there. Pierce Sweeney brought down James McClean, but as Rondon and Rodriguez debated who should take the penalty, Hal Robson-Kanu picked the ball up and strode to the spot.

He then tried a clever dummy, only to roll the ball slowly towards goal and give promising young Exeter keeper Christy Pym the chance to make an easy save.

“It didn’t affect the game, so it was okay, but there were a couple of little moments we must make sure don’t happen again,” said Pardew. So who should have taken it? “I’m not going to tell you.”

It could have been crucial. Jayden Stockley hit the post after a blunder by Ben Foster a minute later, and Exeter then dominated the second half.

“The way we played then made the way we performed in the first half even more disappointing,” admitted their boss Paul Tisdale. Pardew wasn’t bothered – he was just happy to finally have a win. NEIL HARRIS heaped praise on striker Aiden O’Brien after he scored twice to KO Barnsley. The visitors took the lead through Brad Potts but goals either side of half time from O’Brien and Ben Thompson saw Millwall take control of the tie and when Joe Williams was sent off it looked all but over for Barnsley before Fred Onyedinma rounded off the game with a late goal.

And Lions boss Harris believes that O’Brien’s brace will do wonders for the striker’s confidence. He said: “I was delighted for Aiden. He’s been a goal threat in every game he’s played, he’s been close and denied from goalline clearances and the woodwork, but to get a couple today will do his confidence a world of good.” I thought the 20 minutes before half time and 20 minutes after half time were the best we’ve been this year.”

Tykes boss Paul Heckingbottom was left to rue his side’s defending as he had no complaints about the defeat.

He said: “Although it was 1-1 at half time I felt we’d missed an opportunity and I saw signs that we weren’t really defending properly.

“The second goal was a clear indication of that and then the sending off puts us on the back foot.

“I’m really disappointed. The only saving grace is that there’s not three points lost on this game today.” Possession 49% 51% Shots On Target 4 3 Shots Off Target 5 4 Blocked Shots 3 5 Corners 4 3 Fouls Conceded 3 8 Offsides 9 1 Yellow Cards 0 2 Red Cards 0 1