AFC Bournemouth 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 - Match Report

Eddie Howe’s side turned in a display laced with vitality and no little grit to eventually see off a West Brom team that rarely flickered as an attacking force. Indeed if the hosts had been more clinical in the Baggies’ box this could have been altogether more comfortable.

That they weren’t brought the visitors out of their shell after the interval – but ultimately Cherries rode out a mini-storm to win the day.

Jordon Ibe was central to much of Cherries’ bright early work. The winger first sent one wicked, dipping cross just too close to Ben Foster. And when Ibe was then picked out by Harry Arter’s terrific pass inside Brendan Galloway, the former Liverpool man cut inside to drill a low effort that deflected behind off covering Baggies’ centre half Johnny Evans Darren Fletcher’s burst forward was the spark for West Brom’s first foray of note.

The midfielder darted into space behind Charlie Daniels to collect Craig Dawson’s forward ball, before teeing-up Matt Phillips, whose looping delivery was taken off the lurking Saido Berahino’s head by Artur Boruc.

Claudio Yacob caught Sam Field’s 14th minute corner flush on the volley, but the Argentine could only direct his 25-yard volley harmlessly into Cherries keeper Boruc’s gloves.

But normal service was swiftly resumed. Daniels couldn’t get enough on Ibe’s 21st minute right-sided free kick to test Foster. Soon after Arter hounded Yacob off the ball, with Ibe then taking up the cudgels, skipping away from Galloway to fire in a cross that forced Dawson to clear behind.

By now a pattern was set: Tony Pulis’s team content to surrender possession and retain their shape; Cherries shifting the ball quickly in an attempt to move the blue and white sentries from their stations.

Daniels’ exquisite touch to kill Andrew Surman’s cross-field ball drew gasps from a rapt Vitality Stadium crowd. Callum Wilson, however, couldn’t apply decisive contact to the left back’s delivery.

Daniels was swiftly back into the fray, intercepting a Dawson pass and so enabling Junior Stanislas to launch a counter, which subsequently went through Wilson to Josh King.

The striker dipped onto his right foot before hitting an effort too close to Foster Then, nearly the classic sucker punch. Steve Cook’s heavy touch ran for Berahino, who curled a yard too high of goal – prompting the travelling support to break into a chorus of “we’ve had a shot”.

The half ended with the sides trading chances. Stanislas picked up the pieces when Wilson had a shot cannon back out off Gareth McAuley. The winger’s follow up effort was kept out by Baggies No 1 Foster low to his right.

Wilson pounced on the rebound, but was only able to fire off target from close range.

At the other end Dawson’s cross from the right ran all the way to the far post, where Berahino couldn’t keep his shot low enough to trouble Boruc.

West Brom emerged from the break a more threatening proposition. And Simon Francis took the safe option when Nacer Chadli took aim from 20-yards, the Cherries skipper planting over his own bar. From there, the home team had a chance of their own.

Cook’s clearance from Field’s corner ran for Ibe, who charged half the length of the field, only to be caught in two minds when he reached the Baggies area, eventually rolling in a cross that Foster reached ahead of Wilson.

Galloway then swooped onto Boruc’s poor throw to race forward via an exchange of passes with Chadli. The left back breezed past Surman to send in a cross that deflected kindly for Berhaino, whose driven shot was sharply kept out by Boruc.

Cherries broke in an instant, Ibe dashing clear but thumping his shot the wrong side of Foster’s left-hand post.

Chances, formerly at a premium, were now arriving on tap. Boruc exhibited stunning reflexes to claw away Dawson’s point blank header from Phillips’ left-wing corner The change of tone prompted Howe to send for Jack Wilshere just past the hour, the manager withdrawing Ibe and initially deploying the England international behind striker Wilson.

Wilshere was swiftly involved, leading a charge that ended with Foster saving from Stanislas. And the keeper was soon denying the same player again, clinging on after Wilshere had cleverly slipped the ball into Stanislas’s path to drive on target.

Between times, Phillips’ free-kick from the left - awarded when King was adjudged to have used too much force when shouldering Fletcher to the ground- had clipped Boruc’s crossbar.

Howe’s final throw of the dice came with the introduction of Max Gradel and Dan Gosling, in place of King and Stanislas – Wilshere adopting a position out to the right.

And, in quick time, the hosts had their lead. The game had momentarily fallen into a lull, the Baggies having reined in their attacking intent and Cherries’ work lacking some of its earlier energy.

Wilson, though, was still operating with his customary fizz. And when Adam Smith collected Gosling’s pass to cross to the near-post Wilson was first to react, expertly flicking across Foster and into the far corner of goal.

From there it was rather straightforward. The announcement of five added minutes drew an audible groan, memories of the recently shipped late goal at Crystal Palace still fresh. But any concerns were unfounded.

While Baggies fans voiced their disapproval at their manager’s style of football, the home supporters could celebrate on a Saturday night, once more.

Cherries: Boruc, A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels, Ibe (Wilshere, 62), Arter, Surman, Stanislas (Gosling, 73), King (Gradel, 73), C Wilson. Subs: M Wilson, B Smith, Afobe, Federici (g/k).

Booked: A Smith.

West Brom: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Galloway, Field, Yacob (Leko, 82), Fletcher (Gardner, 71), Phillips, Chadli, Berahino (Rondon, 62). Subs: Nyom, Olsson, McClean, Myhill (g/k).

Booked: Yacob, Evans, Field.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire & Rutland).