Match Reports

Albion 3 Blackburn 2

Albion came from behind again to claim a 3-2 win against Blackburn Rovers in an eventful Sky Bet Championship match at The Hawthorns.

The away side went ahead less than 60 seconds in through Bradley Dack, but three fantastic goals from Matty Phillips, captain Jake Livermore and Grady Diangana turned the game around before the 40-minute mark.

Bradley Johnson struck back in first-half injury time to haul Blackburn within a goal at the break, but a goalless second 45 ensured the points stayed with the Baggies.

The first home triumph of the 2019/20 campaign means they remain unbeaten this season, three wins and three draws, going into the September international break.

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Slaven Bilić made four changes to the team that drew at Derby last weekend with Darnell Furlong, Matheus Pereira, Diangana and Charlie Austin all named in the line-up.

But it was a nightmare start for Albion as, inside a minute, Blackburn took the lead. A defensive mishap saw Rovers win the ball behind enemy lines and Dack finished into the bottom corner.

Just over 20 minutes later the Baggies were level though. Phillips - fresh from signing his new contract on Friday - was played in brilliantly by Pereira, and he beat the defender to the ball before confidently slotting home.

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By this time Albion were well on top and they took the lead on the half-hour mark when Pereira teed-up Livermore to superbly smash one well beyond Christian Walton.

Bilić’s men didn’t let up after netting the second and soon scored their third of the day five minutes before half-time. The dangerous Diangana put pressure on Rovers’ defence and won possession near the half-way line, holding off all sorts of challenges from a defender to get inside the area and delightfully dink the onrushing goalkeeper.

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However, for all their good work Albion only had a one-goal lead at the break - Johnson scrambling an effort in during first-half injury time following chaos in the box.

And the away side continued to cause problems straight after the interval, seeing one disallowed for a foul on Sam Johnstone and then going close as Stewart Downing hit the post.

Despite being under the cosh a bit, the Baggies did create chances for themselves too. Austin had a shot blocked from close-range and Pereria and Livermore both whistled efforts off-target with the final whistle in sight.

Referee Tony Harrington indicted five extra minutes shortly after Kyle Bartley blazed a volley just over, but Albion held on to claim a great win before a fortnight without a fixture.

ALBION: Johnstone, Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, Ferguson; Livermore (c), Sawyers; Phillips, Pereira (Edwards 89), Diangana (Krovinović 76) Austin (Zohore 68).

Substitutes: Bond, O’Shea, Brunt, Robson-Kanu.

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