His celebrations as Albion took a fourth minute lead were rather more muted that his antics at the 2016 FA Cup Final when he was in charge of Crystal Palace went viral on the internet.

His kept his dignity and showed a calm appreciation of skipper Jonny Evans’ second goal of the season, but his first since September.

Yet it could be one of the most important goals of his managerial career as he battles to save his team from plunging into the Championship.

And for Evans it could turn out to be the perfect swansong as he left the pitch six minutes from time applauding all four corners of the ground to a rapturous reception for what could well be his last appearance as Albion skipper.

Pardew was supposed to put the bounce into the Boing-Boing Boys and he finally had the ground rocking with the sort of bright, sparky performance he promised when he took over last November.

If, as expected, it’s Evans’ last goal for the Throstles before a move to one of the Big Six – Arsenal and runaway leaders Manchester City lead then chase for the former Manchester United defender – brings in the cash for striking reinforcements, then at least he will be departing as a local hero.

His powerful header with only three minutes 32 seconds on the video clock, not only gave Pardew hopes of his first win, but also lifted the crowd and put a collective spring in the step of Albion’s players.

It also wrecked Chris Hughton’s game plan having gone behind so early in the game, caught out by a corner routine straight from the training ground, one-time the trademark of the previous West Brom manager.

Winger Phillips delivered the perfect centre to James Rodriguez at the near post. His flick on was met by Evans, virtually unmarked despite being in a crowd of yellow shirt defenders.

His close range header gave Mat Ryan no chance and left Brighton knowing they would have to end their five away games goal drought to go leave with anything.

It was only Albion’s third goal in Pardew’s five home games and neither of the two others had been enough to give him the three points.

They knew they needed a second to be comfortable and, to their credit, they never went into their shell and kept pushing forward, Phillips and  Chris Brunt keento  get at Brighton’s back four.

Since that infamous jig along the Wembley touchline Pardew has wandered into a Premier League cul-de-sac and won only one of his last 20 league games.

Even so, he still didn’t show too much emotion as a second goal – and a second header from a corner – put him closer to that elusive second victory.

Brighton were undone by another rehearsed move, Chris Brunt lifting his corner outside the six yard box where Craig Dawson got on the end of it.

His header bounced into the turf but beyond Mat Ryan and a defender on the line to hit the roof of the net.