West Bromwich Albion vs Burnley. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance23,455.
Saturday 31 March 2018 19:38, UK
Rock-bottom West Brom slumped to an eighth consecutive Premier League defeat as Burnley held on to win 2-1 at The Hawthorns.
Ashley Barnes' brilliant acrobatic finish after 22 minutes sent them on their way to a third successive victory before Chris Wood doubled their lead with a header from close range (73).
Salomon Rondon reduced the arrears with a well-taken finish seven minutes before the end but the hosts could not complete the comeback and Alan Pardew's side remain 10 points adrift of safety with six games remaining.
Burnley go from strength to strength, however, with Sean Dyche's men just two points off sixth-placed Arsenal, and the sides face each other in the penultimate weekend of the season.
West Brom's eight-year stay in the Premier League looks increasingly like coming to an end, and they paid the price on Saturday after an opening half which lacked the sense of urgency required for a side fighting for their lives.
Burnley dominated possession, but scored from their first meaningful attempt on goal as the impressive Aaron Lennon stood up a cross from the right for Barnes to volley past Ben Foster.
It was the fourth consecutive Premier League game in which the forward scored - the first time he has achieved the feat - and West Brom failed to test Nick Pope until Rondon's header from Jake Livermore's cross was tipped around the post in first-half stoppage time.
Pardew sought to inject greater endeavour and energy at the interval with Matty Phillips replacing Kieran Gibbs, and the switch had the desired effect as the substitute's cross was headed narrowly over by Jay Rodriguez 14 minutes after the restart.
But the necessary quality continued to desert the hosts, with Burnley's resolute defence absorbing their opponents' best efforts and the game appeared over as a contest when Wood latched onto Matt Lowton's cute pass to head beyond Foster after his initial shot was saved.
It was only after Rondon pounced on a loose ball from Jonny Evans' cross to fire past Pope with seven minutes remaining that Burnley showed any signs of weakness, with Chris Brunt unable to convert from Phillips' cross moments later as the visitors held on for victory.
Alan Pardew: "We were so tentative in what we did [in the first half]. It wasn't the team I saw in training this week. We didn't cope with the pressure from the fans and the media, but in the second half, we did much better.
"We need a result, and we did everything today but we couldn't get one. We've got another tough game here next week at home, and we're learning some players can deal with the situation.
"We've got to stand up to the opposition and ask them questions. We did that in the second half but the first 45 minutes we weren't good enough."
Sean Dyche: "We're really pleased. It's another big win. This is a strange place to come at the minute but I thought we handled the occasion well.
"I'm not sure if we can break into the top six [this season], but progress is being made. It's hard to make massive strides at once but we've made improvements, particularly away from home.
"You've got to be careful what you wish for, but I'm very proud of what the players are achieving."
Barnes' beauty midway through the first half lit up a match that had been starved of quality.
The 28-year-old forward is brimming with confidence after notching in his fourth straight Premier League game, and his overall link-up play in particular with Lennon and Wood was a highlight of his performance.
He is the second Burnley player to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances after Sam Vokes did so between May and August 2017.
West Brom are at home next weekend as they host Swansea on April 7 while Burnley travel to face Watford at Vicarage Road on the same day.
