STALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
Hegazi scores on his debut to give Albion a winning start
most likely to be a success here, so we took a chance on him. Hopefully it will pay off.”
Hegazi, who towers at 6ft-5ins, had already looked like the sort of central defender Pulis would love even before he got his goal. He bullied Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe out of the game, winning headers and tackles.
And then he made the game’s most decisive moment, as he forced his way through a crowd of players to reach Chris Brunt’s free-kick and head home from a few yards.
“The delivery we have at set-pieces from both Chris and Matty Phillips is top quality,” said Pulis. “But we’ve also got players determined to put themselves on the end of those good crosses.”
Ironically Hegazi was only in the team because captain Jonny Evans dropped out to protect a hamstring injury.
But he grabbed his chance and will give Pulis some options in a squad that is still far too thin – the bench had three kids and another Academy product, Sam Field, was in the starting line-up.
After signing a new contract on Friday, Pulis knew he needed a good start to the season at home.
Until Hegazi’s goal, Albion had made chances but failed to take them, with big signing Jay Rodriguez putting a pointblank header over the bar.
Instead it was left to a defender to show him how to finish, and Albion then shut the game down in the second half.
“I was disappointed in both the result and our performance,” admitted Cherries boss Eddie Howe. “We were too slow in possession, and needed to do far more to get behind their lines. There’s a lot for us to go away and work on.” WEST BROM BOURNEMOUTH 6 ........... Shots on Target ........ 2 9 ........... Shots off Target ........ 2 1 .............. Blocked Shots .......... 5 8 ................... Corners ................ 2 15 .................... Fouls ................... 3 2 .................. Offsides ................ 0 3 .............. Yellow Cards ............ 1 0 ................. Red Cards .............. 0 64.7... Passing Success% .... 86 19 .................. Tackles ............... 16 78.9 ....... Tackles Won % .... 81.3 28.7 ........ Possession% ....... 71.3 44 ........ Territorial Adv% ..... 56 241 ........... Total Passes ....... 609 16 ............ Total Crosses ......... 24 30.2 ...... 1st Half Poss% ..... 69.8 27.3 ...... 2nd Half Poss% .... 72.7 WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Foster 6, Nyom 6, Dawson 6, Hegazi 8, Brunt 7, Yacob 7, Phillips 6 (RobsonKanu 72, 5), Livermore 6, Field 7 (Harper 70, 5), McClean 7, Rodriguez 7 Subs not used: Myhill, Rondon, Chadli, Leko, Wilson BOURNEMOUTH: Begovic 6, Francis 6 (A Smith 79, 5), Cook 6, Ake 7, Daniels 6, Surman 5, Arter 6, Fraser 5, King 6, Pugh 5 (Ibe 45, 6), Afobe 5 (Defoe 64, 6). Subs not used: Boruc, Gosling, Mings, Mousset. REFEREE: Bobby Madley 6