Relieved Alan Pardew says West Brom must build on FA Cup win in Premier League

The Baggies beat League Two Exeter City 2-0 in the FA Cup third round today thanks to first-half goals from Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez.

Pardew was pleased with the professional job his team did at St James Park that ended their club-record 21-game winless streak in all competitions.

"With all due respect, there was no whooping or jumping around," he said. "It was a professional job, we were expected to win here.

"The most important thing is that we did win, it didn't matter in which manner.

"I thought we did it with a really good display but even if we'd have scraped home I wouldn't have cared.

"As long as we won. It was important for our fans, we're looking better, we've played some decent stuff, without giving them a reward of a win. It was nice to see our 350 fans happy at the end."

Pardew knows, however, that the FA Cup is a happy distraction from this season's troubles in the Premier League.

He wants the victory to spark some momentum in the competition that is the team's bread and butter, starting at home to Brighton next weekend.

"It's a sense of relief for me and my coaching team more than the players," he said. "We all know there's a big job to do in the Premier League, our focus is very much on the next league game.

"Having said that, a lot of things we put in place came to fruition today, particularly in the last third. The important thing is to take it into Brighton.

"Our interplay around the box was much more controlled today. We need to do that in the Premier League.

"We might be up against better opposition defensively but you can still take your time and be clinical in your movement.

"Salomon and Jay were terrific in that first 25 minutes, they were difficult for Exeter and anyone to deal with, so that was a boost for us."

Salomon Rondon opened the scoring in under 90 seconds and then Jay Rodriguez added a second mid-way through the first half.

Hal Robson-Kanu missed a penalty towards the end of the first half and several chances went begging in the second period, but Pardew was pleased with how much the Baggies were creating.

"I was because it was difficult circumstances, the environment with two stands being down, a really sticky pitch and a team that is physically strong in Exeter," he said.

"I thought first half we were terrific and deserved to be leading, perhaps 3-0 really.

"I know we missed the penalty but we had some good chances before that and played very well.

"I thought it was important today to keep the momentum, I know we lost our last game but it was the last minute and we've played well the last two or three games without getting a win. So I didn't want to change it too much today.

"In the second half, Exeter did very well. Their manager changed their shape and it worked for them and our defence had to do well. So it was a professional job."

Pardew is keen to bring a striker and an attacking midfielder in during the window and despite the goals for his two front men he's still eager to do that.

"I said on Thursday that I will be looking to bring somebody in, if not two," he said. "We're working on that in the background, and that's all I can say at the moment."

The Baggies boss may sell Jonny Evans to fund the new additions, and speculation surrounding the Albion skipper intensified when it was revealed he didn't travel to the match because of a sore foot.

"He was injured," insisted Pardew. "He hurt his foot on Friday so we left him behind."

When Pardew was asked if he'd still be an Albion player come the end of January, he said: "I think so, I don't know, it's very difficult."