Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion. Sky Bet Championship.
Vitality StadiumAttendance9,254.
Report and highlights from the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season opener between Bournemouth and West Brom at the Vitality Stadium, as Valerien Ismael's Baggies hit back twice to earn a point on the south coast
Saturday 7 August 2021 07:06, UK
Bournemouth and West Brom played out a pulsating Sky Bet Championship opener on Friday night, as the Baggies hit back twice to secure a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Cherries debutant Emiliano Marcondes - who scored the final goal of the 2020/21 Championship season, as Brentford won the play-off final - scored the first of the 2021/22 season with a smart finish from inside the box to give the hosts the ideal start (12).
A towering header from Dara O'Shea brought Valerien Ismael's men level (33), before Callum Robinson had a goal chalked off, but just as the Baggies looked to flip the game on its head, the hosts re-took the lead through Philip Billing (52).
Less than 15 minutes had elapsed when Robinson brought a slick team move to its conclusion when he powerfully steered the ball out of goalkeeper Mark Travers' reach after Alex Mowatt's neat square ball (66).
And David Brooks perhaps should have restored the hosts' advantage for a third time soon after, but David Button made a crucial late save to make sure of a well-deserved point for the Baggies.
With two newly-appointed managers going toe to toe for the first, two sides with points to prove and - crucially - a full capacity crowd for the first time in almost 18 months, every element suggested the season's curtain-raiser made for a tantalising encounter.
As the energy from the stands helped to set the tempo, the hosts weathered the storm brought by the Baggies' high press and, after just 12 minutes, Marcondes swept in the opener having been located by a low cross from Jaidon Anthony.
In an attempt to build on their lead, on several occasions the Cherries opted to loft the ball forward to Dominic Solanke, with little success, but they were pegged back when O'Shea leapt above two defenders to head underneath goalkeeper Mark Travers.
Momentum then swayed in the direction of the visitors, who thought they had a second ruled out when Robinson's connection trickled over the line following a corner, though referee Darren Bond was quick to rule it out after spotting a push on the goalkeeper.
West Brom started the second half as they ended the first, but against the run of play, Billing found the net after Baggies goalkeeper Button could only push Jordan Zemura's cross into his path.
However, they hit back when substitute Matt Phillips fed Mowatt, who squared for Robinson to stretch and steer the former Barnsley man's delivery into the back of the net with aplomb, before Button's important late intervention ensure the game ended all square.
Having grown up in Arsenal's academy, 21-year-old Anthony comes from great stock and looked at ease on his first league start at the Vitality Stadium.
The winger - who joined Bournemouth in 2016 - registered an assist when he set up Marcondes after 12 minutes and played a key role in Billing's second with a sublime pass to Jordan Zemura in the build-up to round off an evening that has no doubt left Cherries fans keen to see more.
Bournemouth's Scott Parker: "I'm immensely proud of the team. It was a young team with a lot of young players, and they are a tough side we played tonight, who put us under immense pressure and put the balls in difficult places for us. We had to stand up to that.
"I'm a little disappointed that we got in front twice and conceded quickly twice afterwards, but first and foremost standing in my position you need your team to stand up and not shirk it, and they did that. Overall I'm pleased."
West Brom's Valerien Ismael: "For an opener it was a good game from both teams with plenty of intensity. In the first half we were in control ut conceded from their only shot.
"We showed good mentality through the game to come frombehind two times, and we had the power to score any time. We're delighted with the performance, but we need to work on the final details because we can do it better next time."
Both teams are next in action at 3pm on Saturday, August 14. Bournemouth travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, while West Brom host Luton at The Hawthorns.
