AFC Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion

4th August

Valérien Ismaël will take charge of his first league game as Albion boss when his side travel to AFC Bournemouth on Friday night for their 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship opener (ko 7.45pm).

The Baggies enjoyed four pre-season workouts ahead of their return to league action; scoring seven goals, keeping clean sheets in all of their friendly matches and boosting morale with a thumping 4-0 win during their final game against Birmingham City.

Albion’s preparations have allowed time for new additions to settle into the fold. Alex Mowatt, Matt Clarke and Quevin Castro have all featured during pre-season, and the recent addition of experienced Championship midfielder Adam Reach further bolstered the Baggies’ midfield options.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Quevin Castro missed the final friendly with Blues last weekend due to knocks, but aside from those two injury doubts, Ismaël has a fully fit squad to choose from.

How to follow the match

Gez Mulholland and Andy Johnson will return to produce another microphone masterclass on WBA Radio this season.

Fans will need a My Albion account to access full commentary over the campaign. Those who haven’t signed up already can do so here.

Coverage starts from the Vitality Stadium on Friday evening, and supporters can purchase an Audio Match Pass for the Championship opener here.

Live commentary starts from 15 minutes before kick-off and will be accessible through the live match centre or WBA TV.

Similarly, you can get your fix of Baggies-biased commentary for every league game by getting a Matchday Season Pass here.

If you have any issues registering or accessing your My Albion account please contact myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

The game is also available to watch on Sky Sports.

Opposition

Like Baggies Head Coach Valérien Ismaël, Bournemouth boss Scott Parker will also be overseeing his first league game in charge this Friday.

After failing to keep Fulham in the Premier League last season, Parker departed Craven Cottage to take on the second managerial challenge of his career at the Vitality Stadium - signing a three-year-deal with the south coast side.

Parker will be looking to build on Bournemouth’s sixth-placed finish last term, and utilise the competitive squad of players at his disposal.

The Cherries have a mix of steel and creativity in midfield. Jefferson Lerma, Phillip Billing and Ben Pearson provide cover and energy in the centre, with Wales international David Brooks and Junior Stanislas offering attacking options out wide. And with talisman Dom Solanke leading the line, the Baggies will be up for an intense encounter on the opening day.

Classic match

Albion recorded a fantastic 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup back in August 2011.

The Baggies played out an entertaining duel with the Cherries and seized full control over proceedings, with Marc Antoine Fortune and Jerome Thomas giving them a 2-0 lead at half time.

Despite an instant response from the Cherries after the break, Simon Cox netted before Fortune completed his brace to secure progression in the cup.

This was Albion’s last away victory against Bournemouth.

Did you know

Despite Albion playing the Cherries on numerous occasions in recent years, Friday night will see the sides compete against each other in the Championship for the first time.

The Baggies’ only recent league meetings with Bournemouth have all come in the Premier League.

Albion colours

The Baggies will be wearing their brand new third kit for the season opener at Bournemouth, owing to competition rules.

You can purchase the new kit here.

6th August

Albion opened the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season with an exciting 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth on Friday night.

Emiliano Marcondes gave the Cherries an early lead before Dara O’Shea’s header brought the away side level ahead of the interval.

In a thrilling second-half Bournemouth struck first again, Philip Billing netting from the edge of the box, before Albion roared back once more - Callum Robinson earning his team a well-deserved point on the road.

As seen during pre-season, Valérien Ismaël lined Albion up in a 3-4-3 formation - though were forced to name only six substitutes after Matt Clarke picked up a knock earlier in the day.

It was the visitors who had the first attempt of the evening when Alex Mowatt curled a dangerous free-kick into the area and Karlan Grant headed straight at Mark Travers.

However Bournemouth were the ones to edge in front on the 12-minute mark, Marcondes latching onto a low pass from Jaidon Anthony and sending his shot past David Button.

The Cherries had a good spell shortly after their goal, yet Albion quickly settled down again and began to create opportunities through counter attacks and set-pieces.

And that pressure resulted in a Baggies equaliser with 33 minutes on the clock. Conor Townsend’s initial long throw was cleared straight back to him, but he controlled the ball and directed a cross straight at O’Shea to superbly head home the leveller.

The away team might have gone ahead almost instantly had Callum Robinson not seen his close-range poke disallowed for a foul, seen somewhere by referee Darren Bond as a corner was whipped in.

Robinson and Kyle Bartley both tested Travers as Albion cranked up the heat before half-time, the Bournemouth goalkeeper to thank for the 1-1 scoreline as the sides headed down the tunnel for the break.

Scott Parker’s hosts started the second period strongly and re-gained their advantage through Billing’s calm finish on 52 minutes.

The Baggies almost responded immediately - Cedric Kipre the second Albion player of the night to have an effort chalked off for a foul during the build-up to his header.

They held their nerve, though, and the goal came. Townsend won possession from a Bournemouth throw and quick play between Albion’s left wing-back, Alex Mowatt and substitute Matty Phillips eventually saw Robinson smash in a volley.

Despite Ismaël’s men pushing forward Button had to remain alert down the other end, the shot-stopper superbly denying David Brooks’ strike when the Welsh international looked destined to score.

There were a few chances to steal the win - Grant flashing wide and Jake Livermore hitting one over, but in the end the spoils were shared on the South Coast.

Albion: Button, O’Shea, Bartley, Kipre; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Townsend; Diangana (Phillips 64), Robinson, Grant (Zohore 87).

Substitutes: Johnstone, Ajayi, Ingram, Tulloch.

Friday 6th August 2021 - 19:45