Substitute Robson-Kanu is sent off after grabbing winner
AT kick-off Tony Pulis and Sean Dyche shared a warm embrace before parting for the dugouts with wide smiles on their faces.
After his forever-battling side eked out a narrow victory, Pulis was (joint) top of the league and no doubt having a laugh again.
Laughing at those who criticise his style, laughing at those who say it does not belong in the Premier League and laughing at those who spend millions more than he does without getting anywhere near the results he produces.
Substitute Hal RobsonKanu’s 71st-minute strike was enough to give Albion six points from six, although the smile may have been temporarily taken off his manager’s face when referee Martin Atkinson showed the striker a red card for an apparent elbow on Burnley full-back Matthew Lowton.
Robson-Kanu appeared to be unfortunate. While his arm was outstretched, he looked to catch the Burnley man with forearm rather than elbow and an appeal may well be forthcoming.
Pulis said he would watch a replay before commenting. Dyche was more forthcoming. ‘A definite red,’ he said.
West Brom were again without Jonny Evans, following interest in the player from Manchester City. The defender has a hamstring injury which his manager insisted was genuine. ‘Jonny is not the type of lad, even if Man City were involved, to not play,’ Pulis said of his captain.
Dyche’s men had stunned the football world at Chelsea last weekend with their 3-2 victory. Following this one it may have been a different team talk, but the manager was impressed with what he had seen.
‘I’m disappointed with the outcome but definitely not the performance,’ said Dyche.
Robson-Kanu grabbed the goal eight minutes after coming on. Chris Brunt, with the ball heading out of play, managed to volley an up-andunder down the field. Matt Phillips flicked on to RobsonKanu, with the striker drilling a clinical finish past Tom Heaton.
BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): Heaton 6; Lowton 5, Tarkowski 5.5, Mee 6, Ward 5; Cork 5, Defour 6; Gudmundsson 6 (Barnes 78), Hendrick 6, Brady 6 (Walters 78); Vokes. Subs not used: Pope, Taylor, Long, Westwood, Arfield.
Booked: Barnes. WEST BROM (4-1-4-1): Foster 6; Nyom 6, Dawson 6, Hegazi 7, Brunt 6; Barry 6; Phillips 6, Livermore 6, Field 5 (Rondon 85), McClean 6 (Robson-Kanu 63, 6); Rodriguez 5. Subs not used: Myhill, Wilson, Harper, Leko, Chadli. Sent off: Robson-Kanu. Referee: Martin Atkinson 5.5.