Hat-trick hero Dwight Gayle enjoys fairytale at New York Stadium

Earlier in the day, the Baggies top scorer had told team-mates that three points and the match ball would be the perfect Christmas present this year.

Thanks to a classy treble, which included a free-kick under the wall, Gayle got his wish.

"We were talking on the bus before the game," he revealed. "Jake (Livermore) said he wanted to get everyone a gift.

"I said I'd be happy with three points and a hat-trick, it's weird that it ended up happening.

"I'm buzzing to help out the team. It was important that we kicked on from Sheffield United and picked up another three points away from home.

"My favourite one was the free-kick. It was important to get the first goal, we knew how good Rotherham have been at home. We know how tough they can be."

Gayle has an on-going competition with fellow forwards Jay Rodriguez and Harvey Barnes over who can score the most this season.

But the Newcastle loanee has now stretched clear of the others.

"It's not nice when you're scoring and see Jay Rodriguez smashing the floor!" he joked. "He's not taken it too well!

"No, it's fantastic for us to be doing so well. And perfect for us to get a clean sheet today, I think that's what everyone was most happy about."

Gayle scored twice in the first half but then wrapped up his hat-trick in front of the sold-out away end 10 minutes after the break.

"To be fair I couldn't believe it when I looked up and saw the whole stand was packed," he said.

"It's important not to get too carried away. We've got Wigan on Boxing Day who are a solid side."