Gross hits two as Brighton get first Premier League win since return

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 Brighton's Pascal Gross applauds the fans at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

(Reuters) - Pascal Gross scored either side of halftime as promoted Brighton and Hove Albion enjoyed their first Premier League win after a 34-year absence from the top flight when they beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Saturday.

Gross broke the deadlock on the cusp of halftime, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner, and scored again three minutes into the second half, this time into the bottom left corner.

The German midfielder then assisted Tomer Hemed for a comfortable third goal in the 63rd minute, following a goalkeeping blunder by Ben Foster.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 Brighton's Pascal Gross scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Midfielder James Morrison scored for West Brom in the 77th minute, with an assist from Oliver Burke, and the visitors came close to a second goal in injury time but Australian keeper Mat Ryan was able to block the shot.

(Reporting by Laura Hamill; Editing by Clare Fallon)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 Brighton's Pascal Gross scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 Brighton's Pascal Gross celebrates scoring their second goal with Anthony Knockaert REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jonny Evans in action with Brighton's Anthony Knockaert Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 Brighton's Matthew Ryan saves a shot from West Bromwich Albion's James Morrison REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's James Morrison scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Kieran Gibbs in action with Brighton's Anthony Knockaert and Dale Stephens REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Bromwich Albion - Brighton, Britain - September 9, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's James Morrison scores their first goal REUTERS/Dylan Martinez