Robson-Kanu scores winner then sees red
was a victory for pragmatism and Tony Pulis, as 10-man West Bromwich Albion ensured their best start to a topflight campaign since 1978-79 by overcoming Burnley.
Albion’s triumph, delivered by Hal Robson-Kanu, was almost undone when the Wales forward became only the fourth player in Premier League history to score and be dismissed after coming on as a substitute.
Robson-Kanu’s red card, administered in the 83rd minute after he had appeared to lead with his forearm jumping for a ball with Burnley fullback Matt Lowton, enabled Burnley to lay siege to the West Brom penalty area.
“It was difficult,” Pulis said. “It seemed like an hour. We had to defend for our lives. We have had to ride our luck but the lads have fought and fought all game. Obviously he took his goal really well, it was a good goal and then the sending-off is disappointing.”
Pulis also refuted any suggestion that the absence of captain Jonny Evans, the subject of an £18million bid from Manchester City last week, was anything other than injury-related.
“Jonny is not the type of lad – even if Manchester City were involved and were interested – to not play a game of football if he was fit,” he added.
Burnley, who appear to have supplemented the typically British trait of honest endeavour with invention and finesse, merited more reward according
to their manager Sean Dyche. He said: “You end up scratching your head that you don’t get something, particularly when you perform so well.” Burnley (4-4-1-1) Heaton 7; Lowton 7, Tarkowksi 7, Mee 6, Ward 7; Gudmundsson 7 (Barnes 79), Cork 6, Defour 7, Brady 7 (Walters 78); Hendrick 7; Vokes 6 Subs not used Pope, Taylor, Westwood, Long, Arfield. Booked Barnes West Bromwich Albion (4-1-4-1) Foster 7; Nyom 7, Dawson 7, Hegazi 8, Brunt 7; Barry 7; Phillips 7, Field 6 (Rondon 86), Livermore 6, McClean 7 (Robson-Kanu 63); Rodriguez 6 Subs not used Myhill, Harper, Leko, Wilson. Sent off Robson-Kanu Referee Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)