West Brom 3, City 1: City's FA Cup dream was shattered in 19 one-sided minutes at The Hawthorns today as Danny Dichio grabbed a first-half hat-trick for the Premiership side.

West Brom took only four minutes to go in front and went on to dominate the third round tie although City came back into it after the break as the hosts eased up, pulling one back through youngster Mark Danks.

City's FA Cup journey in the Black Country began with two changes from the team that won in these parts at Wolves last week.

With Peter Atherton banned for accumulating five bookings, Robert Molenaar returned in the heart of the defence after recovering from an ankle injury.

The big surprise was the inclusion of Juanjo for his first game since the 5-0 mauling by Sheffield United.

He replaced Andy Tod, who was not even among the subs. His absence was based on finances not tactics - if he plays one more game then City will owe Dunfermline another £25,000.

Premiership strugglers West Brom were unchanged from the Charlton defeat which meant another appearance against his old club for Darren Moore.

Only three of City's starting line-up were in the team that faced West Brom in the final home game of last season - Wayne Jacobs, Mark Bower and Claus Jorgensen. In contrast seven of the Baggies had played that day.

Bower was in the action immediately to hold off Jason Roberts, who had made a dangerous run behind the Bantams defence.

But there was no escape for the visitors in the fourth minute when Adam Chambers crossed from the right and Danny DICHIO was unmarked at the far post to plant a close-range header past Aidan Davison.

It was the transfer-listed Dichio's third goal in as many games at The Hawthorns and was just the start Nicky Law must have been dreading.

With the home side still celebrating, West Brom thought they were in again as Roberts clashed with Molenaar in the box. No penalty was given and the players squared up angrily before the West Brom striker was booked.

City were in disarray and conceded a second goal a minute later. The corner was played to Ronnie Wallwork who held off Gus Uhlenbeek to clip in a left-wing cross and DICHIO glanced it past Davison's left hand.

Jacobs fouled Roberts to give West Brom a free-kick in a dangerous position to the left of the penalty area. Chambers produced another terrific cross but it was well dug out by Bower as the Premiership side queued up to pile on more agony.

The Bantams were being swept away and West Brom made it 3-0 as Dichio completed a 19-minute hat-trick.

Roberts put it on a plate for him with a terrific run, holding off three defenders. With City wide open, he laid the ball to DICHIO who got past Jacobs to slide home his and West Brom's third goal.

Nothing had been seen of City as an attacking force and when Juanjo tried to spark something into life, he was easily brushed off the ball by Sean Gregan in the centre circle.

The away fans must have wondered why they had bothered to make the trip and it wasn't until the 27th minute that Baggies keeper Russell Hoult got a decent touch - from a back pass by Moore.

West Brom were playing keep-ball to the delight of their supporters as City struggled to get a kick. And they were almost caught out when livewire Roberts made another menacing break before Molenaar could make an important tackle.

City finally enjoyed a spell of possession on the half hour and forced a corner when Lewis Emanuel's low cross was turned behind by Larus Sigurdsson. Juanjo's corner came out to Jorgensen who unleashed a fizzing drive into the crowd behind Hoult's goal.

Roberts was causing panic every time he received the ball and Bower was a little fortunate not to go into David Elleray's book for bringing him down.

Roberts looked clear again as half-time approached but was stopped in his tracks by an offside flag - much to the annoyance of Baggies boss and former City number two Gary Megson on the touchline.

HT: West Brom 3, City 0

West Brom made two changes for the second half with Roberts one of the players to make way, no doubt much to the relief of the visitors. Gregan was also off with Scott Dobie and Phil Gilchrist given a run-out.

Molenaar left Dichio in a heap on the centre circle and received City's first yellow card of the afternoon and his seventh of the campaign.

The City skipper was forced to whack the ball behind for West Brom's first corner of the half in the 48th minute and then won the header to clear the kick by Jason Koumas. Another Koumas corner was claimed by Davison.

Michael Standing slipped a neat ball through for Gray to chase. He was flanked by two defenders and Moore got a toe in to knock it back to Hoult.

But West Brom were soon knocking on the door again as Wallwork's angled pass opened up City. Johnson cut in from the left but the midfielder's shot was turned wide of the post by Davison. Referee Elleray strangely awarded a goal kick.

Seconds later it should have been four as West Brom wasted a glorious chance. Again it came from the left side where Clement's low cross was pushed wide by sub Dobie.

Before play could resume Law made his first substitution and brought on youngster Mark Danks for the ineffective Juanjo.

Dobie, having missed badly from the previous attack, was in again after 56 minutes but this time Molenaar made a perfectly-timed sliding challenge on the edge of the City penalty area.

Molenaar came to City's rescue once again when Davison was stranded in no man's land as he was beaten to the ball by Dobie on the right touchline. The away goal was gaping invitingly but Molenaar made sure there was no way past and clobbered it into touch.

Gilchrist was forced to concede City's second corner under pressure from Danks and Gray managed the first shot on target, albeit without any power to worry Hoult.

Dobie was desperate to get his name on the scoresheet but was frustrated once more by Jacobs who took the sting off another effort at Davison.

Not surprisingly the tempo of the game had dropped with West Brom so much in control. City seemed content just to make sure they did not concede any more.

The West Brom fans were incensed after 70 minutes when Dobie fell after a clumsy challenge by Francis and the referee waved play on.

Danks had a go a minute later but his 18-yard effort flew narrowly wide of the post.

City won another corner with 15 minutes left but Jacobs merely gave Hoult some catching practice with no claret and amber shirt anywhere near.

But the Bantams pulled one back in the 79th minute. Jorgensen shot against the underside of the bar and the ball bounced down for DANKS to nod in from a couple of yards.

With their fans finally given something to cheer, City won another corner but it was stopped for a foul.

Megson made his final substitution with five minutes to go as Igor Balis came on for Wallwork.