Bournemouth snatch late win over rock bottom West Brom



Posted Sunday, March 18, 2018 by PA

Bournemouth snatch late win over rock bottom West Brom

West Brom’s slim hopes of Premier League survival suffered another setback as they surrendered the lead to lose 2-1 at Bournemouth.

Jay Rodriguez looked set to ease the pressure on under-fire Albion boss Alan Pardew after he opened the scoring early in the second half.

But late goals from Jordon Ibe and Junior Stanislas turned the game around to inflict a seventh successive league loss on the bottom-of-the-table Baggies which leaves them 10 points from safety.

Bournemouth snatch late win over rock bottom West Brom

The visitors went into this fixture with just three victories from 30 league games, one of which came against the Cherries on the opening day.

Pardew, who held clear-the-air talks with the club’s owners during the week, responded to last week’s humiliating 4-1 home loss to Leicester by making three changes.

Goal-scorer Rodriguez was one of the men brought in, alongside captain Jonny Evans and midfielder Claudio Yacob, with Grzegorz Krychowiak, who was fined for his angry reaction to being substituted against the Foxes, dropped to the bench along with forwards Matt Phillips and Oliver Burke.

The alterations initially appeared to have the desired effect as Albion edged an opening period devoid of quality, which was punctuated by poor passing from both sides.

Bournemouth forward Josh King wanted a penalty after going down under a challenge from Ahmed Hegazi, while Salomon Rondon had a stronger case at the other end when he was wiped out by Nathan Ake.

Rondon had earlier gone close with a flicked header was turned away by Asmir Begovic, although chances remained at a premium.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said ahead of this game that there would be no complacency from his side but they were woefully short of their best.

Cherries midfielder Lewis Cook, who is likely to make his England debut during the international break, had plenty of possession as he tried to inspire the hosts but struggled to provide the spark required to unlock the visitors’ rigid back five.

Venezuela striker Rondon was proving to be a handful for Bournemouth’s backline and he played a key role in the 49th-minute opener, nodding down Kieran Gibbs’ cross for Rodriguez to swivel and convert from close range.

Bournemouth initially offered little in response and seemed to sliding towards a defeat which could have sucked them back into relegation danger.

But they levelled 13 minutes from time in fortuitous fashion.

Ibe, one of two men restored to Howe’s starting line-up following last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to Tottenham, unleashed a speculative effort from range which Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster could only help into the right corner of the net.

A point would have done little to ease the Baggies’ perilous situation and they were left with nothing with two minutes remaining.

After Craig Dawson clattered King around 25 yards from goal, Stanislas stepped up to expertly curl home the resultant free-kick to end Bournemouth’s four-match winless run.

The Baggies carved out an injury-time chance to level but a header from substitute Phillips was hacked off the line by Charlie Daniels as the hosts took a big step towards securing their own top-flight status.

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.