Lee’s free-kick knocks Bilic’s high-fliers off summit

CARDIFF:

LEE TOMLIN’S late free-kick ensured out-ofsorts West Brom surrendered their place at the top of the Championship table.

The Cardiff substitute dinked a cheeky set-piece strike into the top corner to continue the Baggies’ grim run of seven league games without a win.

Slaven Bilic’s men let Leeds steal a march to the Championship summit after Callum Paterson caught them cold at the start of the second-half.

Charlie Austin got the Baggies back on level terms by netting a penalty with his first touch of the game.

But Tomlin came off the bench to add to West Brom’s woes with an inchperfect free-kick from 20 yards out.

Despite having a 68 per cent share of first-half possession, Albion still left Wales empty handed.

After a goalless first half, the hosts went ahead just 40 seconds after the break.

Kyle Bartley failed to clear Will Vaulks’ long throw into the box and Sean Morrison pounced to help the ball towards goal.

West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone could only palm his cross-shot into the legs of Paterson, who scrambled it in from five yards out.

Filip Krovinovic curled a golden chance over the bar from nine yards out after Matt Phillips’ cut-back, but he quickly atoned for his miss.

The Croatian lobbed the ball over Jazz Richards, forcing the right-back to lunge in and concede a stonewall penalty.

Substitute Austin sent Alex Smithies the wrong way with his first touch of the game to bring West Brom back level. It looked like the visitors were going to kick on and claim all three points until Tomlin was introduced on 64 minutes.

The forward made a telling impact by winning a cheap foul off Phillips on the edge of the Baggies box, but his best was yet to come.

Referee Robert Jones blew his whistle after spending an age getting the wall back 10 yards.

And then Tomlin took a three-step run-up and clipped the ball up and over the wall, and past Johstone’s outstretched hand, to clinch victory.

MATCH STATS