West Brom secured their first victory of the season with a dramatic 3-2 win at home to West Ham.
Late Baggies goal ensures first win of the season
West Brom secured their first victory of the season with a come-from-behind win at home to West Ham.
Chris Brunt scored his first goal for the Baggies seven minutes from time to lift West Brom off the bottom of the league after West Ham had taken the lead in an action-packed first half.
James Morrison gave the hosts a surprise lead after just three minutes, latching onto Borja Valero's cross to head the ball past Robert Green.
Mark Noble tapped the ball in from a yard out after Scott Carson could only parry David Di Michele's header on 29 minutes to level the game, and the Hammers took the lead on 35 minutes when captain Lucas Neill fired into the roof of the net from a set piece.
But West Brom hit straight back just seconds later, Roman Bednar slotting the ball home from the penalty spot after Green was deemed to have fouled Leon Barnett.
The second half was played at a slower pace, with Bednar causing problems for the West Ham centre- backs before Brunt won all three points for the hosts on 83 minutes when West Brom broke clear through Paul Robinson.
The chance looked to have gone when Brunt stumbled, but he dug the ball out from behind him to fire across Green.
Scott Parker could have grabbed a share of the spoils in injury time, but Carson made a fine one-on-one stop to deny the midfielder.
Gianfranco Zola made an unhappy start to his reign as West Ham manager and, after watching from the stands, will be aware that much work needs to be done defensively if the Hammers are to make strides forward.
Suspect defending
Morrison put the Baggies ahead after only three minutes, however there appeared little danger when a left-footed cross from Brunt went across the Hammers box.
Borja Valero was first to react to the loose ball though and he had time to pick out the run of Morrison who sent a glancing header wide of Green into the corner of the net, for Albion's first goal in open play since returning to the top flight.
West Ham found plenty of space to exploit down the left flank, and West Brom goalkeeper Carson parried away a curling effort from Dean Ashton who shortly afterwards was substituted due to a shoulder problem.
Both defences looked suspect and Green completely missed a corner from Greening, only for Bednar to head wide from close range.
Robert Koren had a golden chance to double the home side's lead when he found himself with only Green to beat but the goalkeeper was able to block his shot.
The visitors started to enjoy more of the possession and drew level after 28 minutes.
Calum Davenport's cross found Valon Behrami whose downward header was parried by Carson straight to Noble and he made no mistake from close range.
A clearance from Leon Barnett then rebounded off Behrami straight to substitute Di Michele who forced a save out of Carson at the expense of a corner - and from it West Ham went ahead.
Drilled home
Noble's centre was headed back across goal by Davenport and Neill volleyed home from close range.
But within 60 seconds West Brom were level. Green brought down Barnett and up stepped Bednar to drill the penalty powerfully into the net.
It was his second successful spot-kick of the campaign, after putting one away against Everton in the previous home game.
Albion knocked the ball around in confident fashion at the start of the second half and a fine move ended with Robinson finding Bednar in space inside the West Ham box, but Green reacted quickly to parry the shot from the former Hearts player.
Bednar then created half a yard of space for himself after turning past Davenport but the defender recovered to block the eventual shot.
Home boss Tony Mowbray made a double change after 64 minutes with Luke Moore and Do-Heon Kim replacing Valero and Morrison respectively.
Within 60 seconds West Ham had brought on Julien Faubert for Behrami. Kim quickly went into referee Lee Probert's book, receiving a yellow card for a challenge on Noble.
In the 83rd minute Brunt earned Albion the win after racing onto a pass from Robinson and it proved to be worth three points.
| West Bromwich Albion |
Team Statistics |
West Ham United |
| 3 |
Goals |
2 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
2 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
8 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
8 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
7 |
| 8 |
Corners |
8 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.4 |
Passing Success |
80.4 |
| 25 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 64 |
Tackles Success |
66.7 |
| 54.7 |
Possession |
45.3 |
| 53.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
46.7 |
|
