Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between West Brom and Bournemouth at The Hawthorns as Alex Mowatt and Andy Carroll seal win for Steve Bruce's Baggies on Wednesday night.
Wednesday 6 April 2022 23:27, UK
Bournemouth's charge to automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship suffered a jolt with a surprise 2-0 defeat at West Brom.
Scott Parker's side never recovered from a case of the defensive jitters which gifted early goals for Alex Mowatt and Andy Carroll and ended the Cherries' five-match unbeaten run.
Despite boasting two-thirds of the possession count, Bournemouth's finishing was as woeful as their early defending and they failed to seriously trouble goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The visitors attacked first. Left-back Jordan Zemura cut inside and fired a rising drive well over the crossbar from 20 yards after exchanging passes with Jaidon Anthony down the left.
West Brom took the lead in the eighth minute - and doubled it shortly afterwards.
Mowatt sent a bobbling drive beyond goalkeeper Mark Travers from 20 yards after Bournemouth failed to deal with Darnell Furlong's deep cross.
The leaping Carroll missed the cross in the air, Conor Townsend hooked the ball across goal before Nat Phillips hacked it high into the air and the ball eventually reached Mowatt.
It was 2-0 five minutes later. A long kick from Johnstone was missed by Phillips and Carroll turned Adam Smith one way then the other before burying a low, angled shot past Travers.
Dominic Solanke missed a chance for Bournemouth when he slid the ball wide from Ryan Christie's cross.
But West Brom remained the more dangerous side and Mowatt drove wide from 25 yards before Semi Ajayi headed over from Mowatt's driven corner.
The Cherries were booed off at the break after struggling to make any kind of breakthrough.
Bournemouth head coach Parker made a switch at half-time by replacing Christie with Siriki Dembele.
But the pattern initially continued into the second half as Albion sought a third goal.
Grady Diangana slid Carroll through and the former Newcastle and Liverpool striker poked the ball wide.
Bournemouth missed two good chances in quick succession.
Smith fired wildly over the bar after Solanke's backheel gave him a good sight of goal, then Philip Billing lashed over from the edge of the box after Ajayi carelessly gave the ball to Dembele.
Bournemouth came into the game much more but their finishing continued to be poor.
Lloyd Kelly and Solanke drove hopelessly wide from distance while sandwiched in between, Zemura toe poked over the bar from point-blank range.
Albion had been forced to defend for long periods of the second half but captain Jake Livermore fired over from 20 yards, substitute Callum Robinson twice had shots saved and Townsend drove wide at the death.
West Brom's Steve Bruce: "There's a glimmer (of hope) but we have to be realistic as well. It's going to take an almighty push but there's that many teams chasing. But we're not giving up. I'm as frustrated as the fans are. Unfortunately that inconsistency has cost us and that's the frustration because we know we've got decent players. Let's hope we can get to the levels."
"The goals were well taken and I'm delighted for Andy in particular - just to see him fit and well and playing with heart and determination. That's why fans enjoy watching him and that's why he's been a cult hero wherever he's played. If he stays fit, he's always a handful."
Bournemouth's Scott Parker: "It was a bump in the road. I thought overall we conceded two sloppy goals and they were really poor goals on our part. It was something I didn't see coming. There was an argument for a foul on Jordan Zemura for the first but it was a good finish and the second was a really poor goal from our point of view.
"I was surprised with the two goals because we have been very good in those moments, but we can't give up those goals like this and expect to score three at a place like this. We huffed and puffed and tried to break a really stubborn side. But we lacked that little bit of guile of artistry which you need to try to open the door."
