GREAT ESCAPE SEQUEL!
WHISPER it but West Brom are starting to truly believe in a second Great Escape. Sixteen years after the Baggies became the first team in Premier League history to stay up despite being bottom at Christmas, the current generation are suddenly dreaming of emulating them.
For the first time this season, Albion managed back-to-back league wins as they followed their 5-2 triumph at Chelsea last week by despatching Southampton, who produced a dire display in their final match before Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal against Leicester at Wembley.
Saints’ misery was complete when James Ward-Prowse had a stoppage-time penalty saved.
‘It was a non-performance,’ said manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. ‘If we play like this we have no chance on Sunday.’
First-half goals from Matheus Pereira — from the penalty spot — and Matt Phillips put Sam Allardyce’s side in command before Callum Robinson struck the third in the 69th minute.
It is still a very tall order for West Brom to preserve their topflight status and they remain in the bottom three, eight points adrift of safety with seven games left. But, if they keep playing like this, Allardyce will strengthen the case for keeping the job next season even if West Brom cannot achieve the improbable.
‘These two wins are making people prick up their ears,’ said Allardyce. ‘Unfortunately we have to rely on others losing as well as us winning.
‘Games are running out, it’s just a pity we didn’t turn it around five or six games ago, as our performances deserved.
‘We wanted to play Aston Villa this weekend as neither of us had a game but we haven’t been allowed to. That means we have to sit and hope the teams above us lose.’
Allardyce had challenged his players to repeat their sensational performance at Stamford Bridge and, in the first half, they delivered.
Only a mystifying VAR decision stopped them taking an early
lead. Mbaye Diagne headed in Darnell Furlong’s cross-shot but was initially ruled offside.
Though the linesman’s call was upheld, it was unclear whether Diagne or Kyle Bartley — who did not seem to be interfering with play — had been judged offside.
‘VAR failed us massively,’ added Allardyce. ‘The reflection on VAR can be done at the end of the season and all stakeholders should have an input — the Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, Premier League and Football Association.’
It was later explained that the video assistant referee could not reverse the offside decision because officials could not find a definitive camera angle.
West Brom did not let their heads drop. Sam Johnstone saved well from Kyle WalkerPeters before Saints keeper Fraser Forster twice denied Conor Townsend. Sluggish
Saints were simply unable to stem the flow and, just after the half-hour mark, Albion took a deserved lead.
Pereira was sent crashing to the ground by Forster and claimed penalty duties — to the apparent annoyance of Diagne.
The Brazilian’s confidence was justified, however, as he sent Forster the wrong way, and four minutes later Allardyce’s men doubled their lead.
Danny Ings’ loose pass let in Diagne, who charged forward and delivered a low cross that was perfect for the sliding Phillips to turn in at the far post. Saints were lucky still to be alive in the match by half-time after allowing their opponents 13 shots.
But they flew out of the traps in the second half and pinned West Brom back.
However, the home side’s resilience was rewarded when Saints lost their way in midfield and Okay Yoksulu threaded a splendid pass for Robinson, who held off Jannik Vestergaard and fired beyond Forster in decisive fashion with 20 minutes to play.
Saints had the chance of a consolation in added time when Townsend brought down substitute Moussa Djenepo.
But Johnstone moved smartly to his right-hand side to keep out Ward-Prowse’s fiercely struck penalty kick.
WEST BROMWICH (4-4-1-1): Johnstone 7.5; FURLONG 8, O’Shea 7, Bartley 7.5 (Ajayi 85), Townsend 7; Phillips 7, Yokuslu 7, Maitland-Niles 7.5, Robinson 7 (Gallagher 72min, 6); Pereira 7.5; Diagne 6.5 (Robson-Kanu 76). Subs not used: Button, Gibbs, Livermore, Diangana, Peltier, Grant. Scorers: Pereira 31 (pen), Phillips 35, Robinson 69. Booked: None. Manager: Sam Allardyce 7.5. SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Forster 6; Walker-Peters 5 (Djenepo 87), Bednarek 5.5, Vestergaard 5, Bertrand 5.5; Walcott 6 (Adams 76), Ward-Prowse 5, Diallo 5, Armstrong 6; Ings 5.5 (Tella 87), Redmond 6. Subs not used: McCarthy, Stephens, Minamino, Salisu, Ferry, Jankewitz. Booked: Ward-Prowse. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 5. Referee: Simon Hooper 6.