West Bromwich Albion vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance24,162.
Sunday 26 February 2017 08:56, UK
West Brom needed some late Ben Foster heroics to deny Bournemouth and a claim a 2-1 victory at the Hawthorns.
Eddie Howe's side, who are now without a win in their last six matches, took an early lead through Josh King's penalty in the fifth minute after Ryan Fraser was brought down by Allan Nyom in the penalty area.
West Brom hit back five minutes late through Craig Dawson's deflected strike before Artur Boruc's howler gifted Gareth McAuley his sixth goal of the season.
Both side had chances late on, but it was Tony Pulis' side that held on for a third straight league win at home thanks to two superb saves from Ben Foster to keep out two long-range efforts from substitute Lys Mousset and Tyrone Mings.
It's now five games without defeat for West Brom, who stay in eighth on 40 points, while a fourth straight league defeat leaves Bournemouth in 14th just five points above the relegation zone.
Bournemouth, who made two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Manchester City with Marc Pugh and Tyrone Mings coming in for Jordan Ibe and Simon Francis, made the perfect start when Fraser burst into the box before being hauled to the ground by Nyom.
Referee Mark Clattenburg, taking charge of his first game since the announcement of his pending move to Saudi Arabia, pointed to the spot and King stepped up to send Ben Foster the wrong way.
It did not take long for West Brom to get back on level terms as Nacer Chadli's square pass picked out Dawson just outside the penalty area. The defender rifled a shot goalwards and the ball flicked up off Charlie Daniels and into the back of the net, leaving Boruc with no chance.
However, Boruc was at fault as West Brom took the lead in the 22nd minute. The Poland international made a complete mess of an attempted punch and the ball fell to McAuley, who made no mistake from close range to score his sixth goal of the season.
It was a nice way for the defender to mark the 500th club appearance of his career but he was needed at the other end shortly after, bravely blocking to repel a goalbound effort by Jack Wilshere.
West Brom thought they should have had a penalty in the 35th minute when Mings and Salomon Rondon tangled just inside the penalty area, but Clattenburg rightly waved away the appeals
Bournemouth received another reprieve at the start of the second half when Clattenburg frustrated the home fans again by disallowing Chadli's headed goal.
Meanwhile, Dawson and Mings had clashed heads inside the penalty area and after receiving treatment the West Brom defender was thankfully able to walk from the pitch - but unable to continue.
Substitute James McClean had a chance to wrap all three points up late on but his shot was blocked by the feet of Boruc.
Bournemouth then pushed for an equaliser in injury time and that was when Foster came into his own. The England goalkeeper did well to help a 25-yard shot from Mousset over the crossbar before producing a full-stretch save to deny Mings right at the death.
Player ratings
West Brom: Foster (8), Dawson (8), McAuley (8), Evans (7), Nyom (6), Livermore (8), Fletcher (7), Chadli (7), Morrison (7), Brunt (7), Rondon (7).
Subs used: Yacob (6), McClean (6), Field (6).
Bournemouth: Boruc (5), Smith (6), Cook (6), Mings (7), Daniels (6), Surman (6), Arter (6), Wilshere (6), Pugh (6), Fraser (7), King (7).
Subs used: Gosling (6), Mousset (6), Afobe (6).
Man of the match: Jake Livermore
