West Bromwich Albion vs West Ham United. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance22,209.
Saturday 17 September 2016 23:28, UK
West Brom held off a spirited West Ham fightback to win 4-2 at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead at the break after goals from Nacer Chadli, Salomon Rondon and James McClean.
Chadli's second put West Brom in cruise control, but West Ham hit back thanks to a Michail Antonio header and Manuel Lanzini penalty.
However, Tony Pulis' side saw out an action-packed game to claim a valuable three points and pick up their first league win since the opening day of the season.
It may yet prove to be a valuable win for Pulis personally, after he admitted on Friday that the new West Brom owners will have the final say on his future.
The hosts got off to the perfect start thanks to two lapses in concentration from West Ham's Arthur Masuaku.
Moments after Masuaku conceded a free-kick for handball, the Frenchman gave away a penalty for handling in the area, with the ball seemingly heading to safety.
Chadli finished coolly from the spot to score on his home debut for West Brom, having joined for a club record £13m from Tottenham in August.
The visitors had chances to equalise, with Lanzini bending his effort narrowly wide before Antonio forced a smart block from Ben Foster.
However, Albion doubled their lead following a sloppy clearance from Angelo Ogbonna, with Chadli picking up the loose ball before finding Rondon, who struck across goal and beyond Adrian.
The hosts grabbed their third when a corner fell to Chadli, whose strike was heading just wide, but McClean was on hand to steer home from inside the six-yard box.
After the break, a blistering counter attack from a West Ham corner saw Rondon run clear on goal, but he unselfishly laid it off for Chadli for the Belgian's second.
A sensational Payet free-kick then struck the underside of the bar as West Ham searched for their first goal.
It came moments later, as Payet's cross found Antonio, with the Englishman scoring his fifth header of the season for the Hammers.
Four minutes later, West Brom conceded a penalty after Galloway tripped Payet, with Lanzini slotting home the resulting spot-kick.
West Ham continued to press, and Ben Foster stayed strong to keep out James Collins' effort with under ten minutes to go.
Hal Robson-Kanu came off the bench to make his West Brom debut late on, and the hosts held on for an important three points.
It was the first time they had scored four Premier League goals since September 2014, when they beat Burnley 4-0.
Player ratings
West Brom: Foster (7), Dawson (7), McAuley (7), Evans (8), Galloway (7), Yacob (8), Fletcher (7), McClean (8), Chadli (8), Phillips (7), Rondon (8).
Subs used: Nyom (6), Morrison (6), Robson-Kanu (6).
West Ham: Adrian (7), Collins (7), Ogbonna (6), Masuaku (4), Kouyate (6), Nordtveit (6), Noble (6), Payet (6), Antonio (7), Zaza 5, Lanzini (7).
Subs used: Feghouli (6), Calleri (6), Fletcher (6).
Man of the match: Nacer Chadli
