7:45pm GMT Kick Off, Vitality Stadium, Championship
Bournemouth took the lead twice, but West Brom also pulled it back on both occasions, as the points are shared on the South Coast.
Both teams headed into the game with new managers at the helm. Scott Parker joined the Cherries from Fulham, and Valerien Ismael left Barnsley to join West Brom.
Bournemouth went ahead when Emiliano Marcondes got a goal on his debut, but Dara O’Shea headed home an equaliser later in the half.
Then in the second half, Philip Billing gave the hosts the lead once again. Callum Robinson was able to cancel out the goal in the 67th minute.
The first chance of the game fell to West Brom’s Karlan Grant. The Baggies new signing, Alex Mowatt whipped the ball into the box and it was met by the forward, which was saved comfortably by Mark Travers.
However, just moments later, it was the home side who took the lead. They countered after a good bit of play in the midfield. Jaidon Anthony, who pulled it across the back, and Emiliano Marcondes rolled it under David Button, giving Bournemouth the lead on his debut.
After the opener, there weren’t many chances for either team, but on the 33rd minute, West Brom drew the game level. Conor Townsend crossed the ball from the left wing towards the back post. Dara O’Shea towered over everyone else and headed them back into the game.
Minutes later, West Brom thought they took the lead, as Callum Robinson poked it home from a corner. The referee didn’t point to the center circle, and instead point the to six yard line after a foul was given in favour of Travers.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to get another chance of giving them a possibly lead. Grady Diangana was tackled just outside the area and Grant picked up the loose ball, which tested Travers as he tipped it past the post, which was the final attempt of the half.
Within the first six minutes of the second half, Bournemouth took the lead once again. Anthony and Jordan Zemura had good build up play and Zemura tried to pick out Solanke, but Button stopped the initial cross. Button pushed the ball into the path of Philip Billing who slotted the ball into the bottom corner, giving Button no chance of making another save.
West Brom came close to drawing the game level once again. West Brom were causing a lot of issues from set piece. This time Darnell Furlong made contact with the ball, which was just wide of the target.
It wasn’t long for them to get an equaliser again. Matt Phillips drove forward with the ball, and played the ball into the path of Mowatt. Mowatt played it across the box to Robinson who was ready and cannoned it into the top corner.
Bournemouth nearly took the lead back immediately, when David Brooks was picked out in the box. He tried to volley the ball into the corner, but Button got down well and matched the effort.
Then it was West Brom who came close to taking the advantage for the first time in the game. The ball fell for Grant, no one was available so he went alone and tried to launch it into the far corner, which he wasn’t too far away from doing.
Neither team really wanted to push too much for a winner, as they didn’t want to risk dropping a point on the opening day of the season.
Both teams share the points as both teams will be happy with the starts them made to their season. Both teams will be looking to build upon this game, and win their next matches, as both teams will be pushing for promotion through-out the season.
Man Of The Match: Alex Mowatt
The Englishman joined the Baggies this summer, and he had a great start to his career at West Brom.
Mowatt was causing a lot of problems from set pieces, while also being a key player in midfield, picking up the ball and creating chances constantly, and he capped it off with an assist.
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Final Whistle 