Match Reports

Match Report : 17/09/2016

Albion down Hammers in six-goal thriller at The Hawthorns

  • Chadli pen (8), Rondon (37) and McClean (44) in first half
  • Chadli grabs brace (56) and claims two assists 
  • Antonio (61) and Lanzini pen (65) hit back for Hammers
  • Attendance: 22,209
  • Albion Star Man: Nacer Chadli

ALBION claimed a 4-2 victory over West Ham United in a memorable six-goal Premier League thriller at The Hawthorns.

Tony Pulis' side romped into a 3-0 lead at half-time courtesy of a penalty from deadline-day signing Nacer Chadli and strikes from Salomon Rondon and James McClean, both of which were set up by the impressive home debutant.

It was Chadli who added a fourth after the restart to send the home faithful into dreamland, before Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini's spot-kick set up a nervy finale.

But the Baggies held strong to score four in the league for the first time since September 2014 and record their maiden home victory of the 2016/17 season, making it seven points from the first five games.

Albion flew out of the blocks and got their reward after just eight minutes as Chadli fired home from the penalty spot after Arthur Masuaku's handball.

Ben Foster made the first of several super saves as he denied Antonio from point-blank range and, within minutes, the Baggies doubled their lead.

Matt Phillips' persistence paid off as he forced Angelo Ogbonna to send a wayward pass to Chadli inside the visitors' penalty area, he found Rondon and the Venezuela international striker did the rest with a powerful low strike into the far corner.

McClean made it 3-0 just before half-time as he converted Chadli's effort, before the former Tottenham Hotspur man grabbed his second of the game 11 minutes after the restart - tapping home after Rondon raced clean through and unselfishly squared.

But West Ham started a fightback and, inspired by a free-kick from Dimitri Payet which came back off the inside of a post, reduced the arrears through Antonio's header and Manuel Lanzini's spot-kick.

Foster thwarted James Collins with another great stop as Albion registered three deserved points from an entertaining encounter.

Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Galloway (Nyom 68); Phillips, Yacob, Fletcher (c), McClean; Chadli (Morrison 75); Rondon (Robson-Kanu 87). 

Subs: Myhill; Olsson, Gardner, Berahino.

BOOKED: Dawson (foul, 43), Nyom (foul, 86)

West Ham: Adrian, Nordtveit, Collins, Ogbonna, Masuaku (Fletcher 77), Kouyate, Noble (c) (Feghouli 45), Antonio, Lanzini, Payet, Zaza (Calleri 45).

Subs: Randolph (GK), Obiang, Tore, Oxford.

BOOKED: Feghouli (dissent, 86)

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)