Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between West Brom and Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on Saturday | Brandon Thomas-Asante scores twice as Carlos Corberan's men pick up third win in four games
Saturday 13 January 2024 18:35, UK
West Brom further cemented their position in the Championship play-off places with a thumping 4-1 win over struggling Blackburn at The Hawthorns.
Tom Fellows opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a header before Brandon Thomas-Asante doubled the hosts' lead on the half-hour mark.
An unfortunate own goal by Dominic Hyam three minutes later all but wrapped up victory for the Baggies before half-time.
Blackburn pulled a goal back after 60 minutes through Jake Garrett, but the visitors badly missed top-scorer Sammy Szmodics, out through illness.
And the host put the game to bed as Thomas-Asante struck his ninth league goal of the season after 63 minutes.
West Brom stay fifth, while Blackburn drop to 18th, 10 points above the relegation zone but winless in six league matches.
West Brom opened the scoring after Darnell Furlong's long throw was not dealt with by the Blackburn defence.
After initial contact from Kyle Bartley at the front post, Fellows was able to head the ball into the net from a yard out at the back post.
John Swift volleyed over a chance for the second when he was found in behind the Rovers defence by a delightful Alex Mowatt pass.
Furlong then also found himself in behind but could not pick out Thomas-Asante for a clear chance on goal.
Thomas-Asante, though, only needed one sight of goal as, from 18 yards, he fired a low strike across goal and beyond the stretching arm of Leopold Wahlstedt.
A Hyam own goal put the hosts 3-0 up, the ball deflecting in off him after Wahlstedt was unable to collect Mowatt's strike.
An opportunity to add a was passed up when a deep cross found Fellows, who took the ball down well but struck a left-footed shot wide.
In first half added time Fellows was presented with another good opportunity which he fired over.
Five minutes into the second half Blackburn had their best chance of the match when they caught West Brom playing out from the back.
Harry Leonard only had the goalkeeper to beat but scuffed his shot and it was an easy save for Alex Palmer to make.
Wahlstedt pushed away Fellows' near-post shot before Palmer leapt across his goal-line to beat away a Sondre Tronstad effort.
The visitors pulled a goal back with half-an-hour remaining when Garrett showed neat footwork and a precise finish into the bottom corner to beat Palmer.
However, Thomas-Asante scored his second of the afternoon with a close-range finish to restore the Baggies' three-goal cushion.
West Brom's Carlos Corberan:
"Excellent, not only for the goals but the way he was linking the play and how he was helping the team build attacks.
"The most important thing with Brandon is his mentality and his physical condition to play and always be ready to help the team.
"The most important moment is every game he plays with us and today he was able to help the team with the goals that he scored.
"I liked a lot the contribution of Reach, I think he was perfect for the type of game we wanted to play today. His contribution in defending was very important too.
"To have all your fullest squad is one of the key points in the Championship."
Blackburn's Jon Dahl Tomasson:
"We need to accept it was not a good day. We knew coming here with the quality of West Brom it would be a tough task. I thought we started the game well, but I was disappointed in the manner we gave the goals away.
"We gave three set-piece goals away today. When Garrett scored an excellent goal in the second half we had a chance to get back in the game, but we conceded immediately.
"The only thing I was pleased with today was to give Sam Gallagher minutes who's been out for four months.
"When you look at the whole play, I thought we were just as good as West Brom, but games are won in each box in the way you defend.
"Are you winning your duels, are you winning your personal duels, the first and second contact, are you smelling danger all those things? Football is won in each box and we need to do better."
