text: Tony Pulis returned to Selhurst Park for the first time since he left Crystal Palace and masterminded a victory which pulled his West Bromwich Albion side to the edge of safety. Alan Pardew tried new ideas on the pitch to outwit Pulis but an early goal from James Morrison and stunner from Craig Gardner meant he could not deliver a satisfying result against the man who left Palace two days before this season kicked off. Despite the timing of his departure, however, there was very little bad blood between Palace’s fans and Pulis who was roundly applauded as he came out from the tunnel in the corner of a ground where the seats are close to the pitch and the crowd can be unforgiving. A few boos broke the surface, but they were drowned out by waves of the respect he deserved for saving them from relegation last season, during his 10-month tenure, when he won the Premier League LMA Manager of the Year award. West Brom midfielder Craig Gardner celebrates having scored the second for Tony Pulis' side with a fine long ranged effort . Before two minutes on the clock, James Morrison (right) headed West Brom ahead following a corner from team-mate Chris Brunt . The West Brom players race to congratulate Morrison (top left), who headed the away side in front against Crystal Palace on Saturday . Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Speroni 6; Ward 6, Delaney 6, Dann 6, Ledley 6 (Souare 46 6); McArthur 6 (Sanogo 80), Jedinak 6 (Gayle 46 6), Puncheon 6.5; Zaha 6.5, Murray 6.5, Bolasie 8. Subs not used: Hennessey, Hangeland, Kelly, Ameobi. Manager: Alan Pardew 5.5 . Booked: Puncheon, Dann, Bolasie . West Brom (4-4-2): Myhill 8.5; Dawson 6 (Wisdom 71 6), McAuley 6.5, Lescott 6.5, Brunt 7; Morrison 7, Fletcher 6, Yacob 6, Gardner 7.5 (Olsson 81); Berahino 6 (Baird 88), Anichebe 6. Subs not used: Rose, McManaman, Sessegnon, Ideye. Manager: Tony Pulis 7.5 . Booked: McAuley, Gardner, Brunt . Referee: Jonathan Moss 7 . MOTM: Myhill . Attendance: 24,765 . Craig Gardner scored a fine long range effort at Selhurst Park (above). CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE . ‘You never know what to expect,’ Pulis said in regard to returning to a former club. ‘They did well for me last year and I hope I repaid them a little bit in respect to what we did in the dressing room and on the pitch. ‘It is a good club. It has got unbelievable potential and I mean that. The supporters are wonderful and they have a good manager. They can push on – if Alan is given the money and the opportunity to push this club forward this club could be a good club.’ Yannick Bolasie even made the effort to go over and shake Pulis’ hand as he strolled down the touchline. Yet the south London locals would not have been expecting what came within two minutes of kick off when West Brom took the lead. Chris Bunt swung in a corner from the left and James Morrison managed to lose Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon and nod in, completely free, from five yards out. Some of Puncheon’s team-mates looked around in disbelief that the West Brom man was afforded so much space in the box. ‘That was a weakness in our set up that Tony exploited,’ Pardew admitted. ‘It was well worked. Their guy took Puncheon to the edge of the box where he is not comfortable marking. ‘We knew Tony would know the players well, know the strengths and weaknesses, I tried to throw a few ideas in on the pitch. They didn’t come off. Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie greets former Eagles boss Tony Pulis (right) before kick-off at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon . Claudio Yacob of West Brom (right) tracks the run of Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha during their Premier League clash in South London . Mile Jedinak of Crystal Palace (right) battles with Victor Anichebe of West Bromwich Albion for possession in the air at Selhurst Park . West Brom captain Darren Fletcher (right) celebrates with goalscorer James Morrison after his early header at Crystal Palace . ‘Our fans are terrific in terms of the understanding of what Tony did here last year, they respected that. People know Tony does an honest job, he plays the game his way and we respect that.’ Despite that early set back, however, Crystal Palace started to play the eye-catching football that has made Pardew so popular in these parts during his short spell in charge. And it was all coming through their main man, Bolasie, on the left. In the 24th minute he weaved into the box, played a one-two then poked an effort towards the near post which West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill did well to save with his feet. Three minutes later he cut in from his flank and bent an effort towards the far corner that Myhill clawed out. Then, just after the half-hour, a ball came in from the opposite flank from Joel Ward, was headed on by Glenn Murray and Bolasie executed a sublime bicycle kick, only to be denied by Myhill once again. If Pulis, dressed in his usual full tracksuit, trainers and cap on the touchline, provided this Crystal Palace team with the spine and solidity to compete in the top flight, Pardew, resplendent in suit and tie, has given them the suave and flair to delight. In this instance, Pulis’ resilient style prevailed and against the run of play they added a second on 53 minutes. The ball came out from a West Brom corner and Gardner took a touch before, 30 yards out and slightly to the right of goal, he buried a right-foot strike over Julian Speroni into the left of goal. It is almost mission accomplished for Pulis at West Brom as they moved to 36 points and put a healthy gap between themselves and the bottom three. Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur controls the ball with West Brom's Chris Brunt fast approaching at Selhurst Park . Victor Anichebe of West Brom takes on Scott Dann (left) and Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace (right) during the Premier League contest . Chris Brunt of West Brom and Glenn Murray of Crystal Palace vie for possession during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park . Gardner lets fly with this long range strike, which ended up doubling West Brom's lead at the Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon . The West Brom midfielder is congratulated by team-mate Joleon Lescott (right) as he celebrates his fine solo strike in the second-half . West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill  falls in to the goal netting after failing to keep out Craig Gardner's long range strike on Saturday . Pape N'Diaye Souare of Crystal Palace (left) and James Morrison of West Brom compete for the ball during the Premier League clash . Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie (right) was lively once again but couldn't stop Alan Pardew's side falling to a 2-0 home defeat . West Brom manager Tony Pulis (centre) barks out the instructions on the touchline as he witnessed his side take three valuable points . Victor Anichebe of West Brom and Pape N'Diaye Souare of Crystal Palace challenge for the ball at Selhurst Park during their league contest . Crystal Palace's striker Yaya Sanogo scores only for his goal to be disallowed during the 2-0 defeat to West Brom on Saturday . Both sets of players vie for the ball as a cross heads into the box at Selhurst Park as West Brom defeated the south Londoners 2-0 on Saturday .
target: James Morrison headed Tony Pulis' West Bromich Albion side in front within the first two minutes from a corner .
  Craig Gardner doubled West Brom's lead with a 30 yard screamer in the second-half at Selhurst Park .
  Tony Pulis, on his return to Selhurst Park, guided his side eight points clear of the relegation zone .