West Bromwich Albion vs Watford. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance25,515.
Saturday 16 April 2016 18:38, UK
Heurelho Gomes saved two Saido Berahino penalties as Watford ended a six-game wait for a Premier League win with a 1-0 victory at West Brom.
The Brazilian proved impenetrable as Berahino was thwarted from 12 yards on 68 minutes and again three minutes from time.
In a game which lacked chances, Ben Watson produced the only moment of true quality, turning Adlene Guedioura's low corner past Ben Foster via the post on 27 minutes.
And despite conceding two penalties, Watford held on for the victory that sees them break through the 40-point mark in the Premier League and leapfrog the Baggies in the process.
Tony Pulis recalled Claudio Yacob into the West Brom midfield while Quique Sanchez Flores made four changes as he stepped up his preparations for next weekend's FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace.
Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Nathan Ake and Guedioura were reinstated into the Hornets starting line-up having sat out last weekend's draw with Everton.
And it was the visitors who made the promising start, with Guedioura drilling a low effort wide on 17 minutes.
West Brom took their time to settle into the game and didn't test Gomes in the Watford goal until 24 minutes, when the bright Stephane Sessegnon's near-post free-kick was tipped away by the Brazilian.
Jose Jurado then stung Foster's palms with a long-range effort but the former England 'keeper's was breached shortly after.
Watson, who enjoyed a brief loan at West Brom in 2010, got away from James McClean to meet Guedioura's corner at the near post, glancing an effort across the goal and into the back of the net off the woodwork.
It could have been two on 34 minutes, but Ake's rash effort failed to capitalise on Troy Deeney and Jurado's good build-up.
The Baggies then had two chances to level the contest before the interval, but Berahino sliced wide on 40 minutes before Sessegnon's low effort whistled wide a minute later.
Gareth McAuley called Gomes into action seven minutes after the break as West Brom, with Pulis' half-time team-talk no doubt ringing in their ears, tried to find a route back into the game.
Watford, however, weathered the storm and could have doubled their lead, only for Forster to produce a fine save to deny Deeney's goal-bound effort on 57 minutes.
The hosts struggled to create anything worthwhile from that point on, but they were handed a lifeline when Gomes brought Berahino down with a rash challenge on 67 minutes.
The big Brazilian, however, atoned for his misjudgment, leaping to his right to keep Berahino's poor spot-kick out a minute later.
That seemed to spell the end of Albion's hopes as the game petered out. But referee Michael Oliver's decision to penalise Etienne Capoue for a foul on Sessegnon breathed life into their chances.
Berahino, looking to atone for his earlier miss, was denied again by Gomes who tipped the striker's effort wide as the Hornets left victorious.
Soccer Saturday verdict - Matt Le Tissier
"I was surprised Saido Berahino stepped up to take the second penalty after missing the first one but fair play to him for showing bravery and the courage to go up. Obviously it was misplaced confidence but you don't want to take too much credit away from Heurelho Gomes. It wasn't like he missed the target with both his penalties, Gomes had to make saves and the second one, especially, was a very good save. Gomes has had a good season and he looked pretty solid today. He did not put a glove wrong.
"Watford were solid and restricted West Brom to very few chances in open play. I just wonder a little bit about Ighalo and what has happened to him. He looked a shadow of the player from the first half of the season. Possibly teams are paying closer attention to him and, when you go a few games without scoring, the confidence levels drop a bit."
Player ratings
West Brom: Foster (7), Dawson (6), McAuley (7), Evans (7), Chester (6), Sessegnon (8), Fletcher (6), Yacob (5), McClean (6), Rondon (6), Berahino (5).
Used subs: Gardner (4), Anichebe (4), McManaman (4).
Watford: Gomes (9), Nyom (7), Prodl (7), Britos (6), Ake (7), Guedioura (7), Capoue (7), Watson (8), Jurado (6), Ighalo (6), Deeney (7).
Used subs: Mario Suarez (5), Behrami (4).
Man of the Match: Heurelho Gomes.
