A BAD 1ST ROLL OF THE DYCE
Big Sam faces a massive job as new era gets off to a terrible start... and next up are champs Liverpool!
IF Sam Allardyce did not fully appreciate the scale of the task he faces to rescue West Brom, he does now.
And his new team’s plight is likely to become a lot worse with next up a trip to champions Liverpool, who have just put seven past Crystal Palace.
Albion were second best against Aston
Villa from the start and went behind in the f i f th minute when Anwar El Ghazi struck.
Their prospect of getting anything from the game looked even bleaker when skipper Jake Livermore was sent off in the 36th minute for a challenge on Jack Grealish.
Referee Martin Atkinson initially gave him a yellow card, but brandished red after a VAR review (above).
The Baggies now have seven points after 13 matches. No team with fewer than eight points from 14 games has gone on to avoid relegation.
To beat the drop and bank a £1million survival bonus, Allardyce - managing his eighth different Premier League club - will need all his experience. Not only has he inherited a squad short on firepower and genuine topflight ability, there appears an issue over discipline too.
This was the second successive home game where they have lost a player before the break to a straight red.
On the previous occasion, their 10 men capitulated 5-1 to Crystal Palace following Matheus Pereira’s dismissal for kicking out.
This was an improvement from that at least, Albion keeping their shape in the s e con d half until Bertrand Traore’s late second goal.
But it is Villa not they who will be looking forward to the New Year with optimism after climbing to ninth. This win made it seven points from nine and built on their previous derby away day at Wolves.
Their opener yesterday came when Traore crossed from the right and El Ghazi ghosted in at the back post to convert.
It was El Ghazi’s second goal in three games after being criticised for his finishing in the home goalless draw with Burnley.
Traore, making his fourth league start after a £ 17m from Lyon, looked dangerous with his left-foot crosses. He also took an inswinging free-kick which John McGinn flashed over.
Then came Livermore’s reckless challenge on Grealish by the touchline.
Atkinson decided a caution was enough, but after VAR suggested he take another look at the incident on a pitchside monitor, he changed his mind and Livermore was off.
He became the fourth player to receive a red card in a Premier League game for a foul on the Villa skipper.
After the break the visitors had chances to extend their lead, with McGinn heading wide from Grealish’s cross, Watkins being denied by Johnstone and having another effort ruled out for offside by VAR. Traore capped an impr e s s i v e display with an 84th- minute finish before Grealish was bundled over in the box by Semi Ajayi four minutes later and El Ghazi stepped up to c onvert the penalty.