Cup quarter-finals for the first time with a 2-1 win over West
Brom.
The former Coventry City striker raced clear of the Albion
defence with four minutes to play before slotting under
goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to dump the Premier League club out of
the competition.
Eddie Howe's side, flying high in the Championship, dominated
the first half at Dean Court as Bournemouth followed up their
record 8-0 victory at Birmingham City last weekend with
another impressive display to progress past the fourth round.
Eunan O'Kane's 49th-minute strike broke the deadlock,
but Bournemouth had to defend resolutely to keep Albion out.
The introduction of Georgios Samaras eventually paid off for th
visitors as the Greece international's effort deflected in off
Tommy Elphick after 85 minutes.
However, Bournemouth immediately went down the other end
and Wilson netted for the fifth game running to extend Albion
winless streak to four games.
With both teams making 10 changes to their respective sides
from the weekend, it was perhaps unsurprising that the opening
stages were cagey, with only a Yann Kermorgant shot
threatening for the hosts in the opening 10 minutes.
Adam Smith's surging run in the 14th minute created another
chance for the striker, but his low shot was well blocked by a
superbly-timed sliding challenge from Youssouf Mulumbu.
Midfielder Mulumbu almost opened the scoring at the other en
two minutes later on a rare Albion attack, but his effort from th
edge of the penalty area was easily saved by Lee Camp.
Myhill had to be alert after 20 minutes as Junior Stanislas raced
through the middle, although he was unable to get a shot away
and Tokelo Rantie's effort was pushed away by the Albion
goalkeeper.
Brown Ideye was given his first sight of goal just after the half
hour after Sebastian Blanco and Victor Anichebe combined to
play him in, with Camp equal to the Nigerian's weak effort on
goal.
Bournemouth finally got reward for their efforts four minutes
into the second half through O'Kane.
Another surging Stanislas run put the Albion defence on the
back foot and his touch inside was met by the midfielder to
calmly slot home his first goal of the season.
Albion felt they should have been level minutes later when
Ideye's cross appeared to be handled by Elphick inside the
penalty area, but their protests were waved away by referee Pau
Tierney.
Stephane Sessegnon's introduction from the bench almost
brought the visitors back into the game as he fired a 25-yard
shot just off target.
Albion did equalise with five minutes to play, albeit with the aid
of a deflection, as Samaras' shot flicked off Elphick and past
Camp.
The scores were only level for 50 seconds, though, as substitute
Wilson raced clear on the right and found a way past Myhill.
Chris Baird then blazed a header over the crossbar from Saido
Berahino's cross as Albion spurned a late chance to force extra
tim
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
0 comments:
Post a Comment