West Bromwich Albion 0 - 3 Aston Villa: Finished | 2020-12-20 | Premier League

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
Sam Johnstone	0	3	7

Forwards	G	GA	S	FC	FW
Karlan Grant 83'	0	0	0	3	2

Midfielders	S	FC	FW
Romaine Sawyers	0	1	1
Conor Gallagher	0	1	1
Matt Phillips 78'	1	2	0
Grady Diangana 78'	0	2	1
Jake Livermore	0	2	1

Defenders	FC	FW
Darnell Furlong	0	1
Kieran Gibbs	0	0
Semi Ajayi	3	0
Dara O'Shea	0	0

Substitutes	FC	FW
Branislav Ivanovic 78'(Grady Diangana)	0	0
Charlie Austin 78'(Matt Phillips)	0	0
Callum Robinson 83'(Karlan Grant)	0	0
Lee Peltier	0	0
Kamil Grosicki	0	0
Filip Krovinovic	0	0
Kyle Edwards	0	0
Cédric Kipré	0	0
David Button	-	-

Goalkeepers	G	GC	SAV
Emiliano Martínez	0	0	1

Forwards	G	GA	S	FC	FW
Ollie Watkins	0	0	2	0	1

Midfielders	G	GA	S	FC	FW
John McGinn	0	0	4	1	4
Bertrand Traoré 84'	1	1	2	0	2
Douglas Luiz	0	0	1	1	0
Jack Grealish	0	1	1	2	3
Anwar El Ghazi 5', 88'	2	0	6	1	2

Defenders	FC	FW
Matthew Cash	1	0
Matt Targett	0	1
Kortney Hause	1	0
Tyrone Mings	0	0

Substitutes	FC	FW
Jacob Ramsey	0	0
Keinan Davis	0	0
Frédéric Guilbert	0	0
Björn Engels	0	0
Marvelous Nakamba	0	0
Conor Hourihane	0	0
Neil Taylor	0	0
Ahmed El Mohamady	0	0
Jed Steer	-	-

90'+4'

Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.

90'+4'

West Brom are next in action against Liverpool on the road on December 27. Villa take on Crystal Palace at home on Boxing Day in their next Premier League game.

90'+4'

Aston Villa inflict a 3-0 defeat on West Brom in Sam Allardyce's first game in charge of the Baggies this evening. The Villans took the lead early on through Anwar El Ghazi and matters got worse for the home side when Jake Livermore was sent off after a VAR review for his challenge on Jack Grealish. The visitors pummelled West Brom throughout the second half, but were forced to wait until six minutes from time before notching their second. Bertrand Traore provided a sublime finish to secure the game, while El Ghazi scored his second of the game with a late penalty.

90'+4'

FULL-TIME: WEST BROM 0-3 ASTON VILLA

90'+4'

McGinn has a one late attempt at goal that he drags wide of the right post as the referee ends the contest.

90'+3'

WIDE! Luiz lines up a strike at goal from 25 yards, but he bends his effort just wide of the right post.

90'

There will be three minutes of added time.

90'

SAVE! El Ghazi is denied a hat-trick by a fine save by Johnstone. The winger weaves his way through West Brom defenders in the box before firing at goal on his right foot. His effort heads towards the net, only to be turned over the bar by the Baggies keeper.

88'

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! EL GHAZI FIRES HOME THE PENALTY!!!! 3-0!!! The winger notches his second of the game with a fine strike from 12 yards. He goes high and powers his effort down the middle of the goal. Villa have surely wrapped up the three points now.

86'

PENALTY TO ASTON VILLA! Grealish is bundled over in the box by Ajayi and the referee points to the spot. El Ghazi will take the spot-kick as he did against Wolves.

86'

SAVE! Traore rises highest in the box to head a cross from Targett towards goal, but his effort is comfortably saved by Johnstone.

84'

Grealish works a pass to Traore, who does the rest with a super finish.

84'

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! TRAORE PICKS HIS SPOT!!!! 2-0 VILLA!!!! Villa finally have their second goal as Traore bursts forward and places his strike into the bottom-left corner. The winger collects an offload from Grealish and charges towards the edge of the box. He cuts back at the right time on his left foot and picks out the corner with a sublime finish.

83'

Robinson replaces Grant to provide fresh legs in the final third.

82'

Traore sweeps a deep cross to the back post for an unmarked Targett. The full-back tries to play it into the path of Watkins, but he can only direct his header at Johnstone.

80'

Traore sends Cash down the right flank and he skips past O'Shea, but he loops his cross over Watkins and out for a goal-kick.

78'

Ivanovic is brought on to provide a threat from set-pieces for the home side. He replaces Diangana.

78'

Austin replaces Phillips in the final third for the home side.

76'

El Ghazi has taken 13 shots in his last two games - he had only taken one shot this season prior to this run.

75'

SAVE! Johnstone denies El Ghazi with a brilliant save. Targett threads a pass through to El Ghazi, who turns to fire at goal. However, the West Brom keeper gets down to turn it away from goal.

71'

BLOCK! Traore weaves his way through the West Brom defence, but the Baggies somehow get bodies back in front of the ball to block his strike.

70'

McGinn scoops a ball over the top for El Ghazi in the left inside channel. However, the winger scuffs his attempted cross straight into the hands of Johnstone.

68'

Villa are a little bit restles after seeing their attempts to get a second goal thwarted by the home side. It has been a disciplined effort from the Baggies.

66'

Mings trips O'Shea and goes into the book after an offside call halted a Villa attack.

64'

Phillips tries to release Grant with a throughball, but Martinez is off his line quickly to clear ahead of the forward.

62'

Grant trips McGinn on a forward run and goes into the book.

61'

SAVE Johnstone keeps the Baggies in the game with a crucial stop to deny Watkins. Grealish tees up the forward in the left inside channel, and he hammers an effort towards goal. The West Brom keeper watches it all the way to beat it away from goal.

59'

El Ghazi has a shoot on sight policy this evening and he launches a 30-yard strike towards goal. However, it trickles comfortably into the hands of Johnstone.

58'

El Ghazi almost releases Grealish in acres of space down the left flank, but the England man just cannot take the ball in stride and loses it out for a goal-kick.

57'

It has been all Villa to start the second half. They have the Baggies penned back in their own penalty area.

55'

El Ghazi lines up a hammer of a strike from the edge of the box, but O'Shea puts his body on the line to produce a block.

54'

Grealish and El Ghazi combine down the left flank, but the latter lifts his cross just over the head of Watkins.

52'

WIDE! Grealish causes havoc down the left flank again as he surges past Furlong. He cuts the ball back towards McGinn, but the Scot nods his effort wide of the left post.

51'

Gallagher gets back quickly in his own box to prevent Luiz latching on to a cross from Grealish. The midfielder had to make that intervention.

50'

Gallagher twists and turns on the edge of the box, but he gets crowded out before he can fire at goal.

45'+3'

Allardyce's men have not been a threat in the final third, and weren't even with 11 men on the field. They're going to have to conjure something special to force a positive result out of this game.

45'+3'

Aston Villa lead West Brom 1-0 at the break in their Premier League clash at The Hawthorns. Anwar El Ghazi put the visitors ahead, steering Bertrand Traore's cross past Sam Johnstone at the back post. Matters got worse for the Baggies when Jake Livermore was dismissed after a VAR review for a challenge on Jack Grealish. As a result, Sam Allardyce faces a major task to avoid defeat in his first game in charge.

48'

CHANCE! Grealish raids down the left flank and cuts back on to his right foot to fire low at goal. Johnstone parries the attempt initially before gathering at the second attempt.

45'+3'

HALF-TIME: WEST BROM 0-1 ASTON VILLA

47'

SAVE! El Ghazi cuts in from the left flank and fires at goal on his right foot from 20 yards, but Johnstone watches the ball all the way to make a comfortable stop.

45'+2'

OVER! El Ghazi whips his effort straight into Mings in the wall and the ball deflects off the Villa defender before travelling over the bar.

46'

We're back underway at The Hawthorns.

45'+1'

Traore surges towards the edge of the box and gets brought down by Ajayi. Villa have a free-kick in a threatening position.

45'

There will be two minutes of added time.

45'

Johnstone has to be alert to scamper off his line and slide to clear ahead of Watkins following a loose backpass from Gibbs.

42'

Villa have lost their tempo since the Baggies were reduced to 10 men. Smith and his side might be grateful of the break to freshen up their approach.

40'

SAVE! Phillips goes for goal and he launches a strike towards goal, but it's a comfortable pace and height for Martinez to claim.

40'

Hause stretches and catches Diangana on the ankle. He goes into the book for his challenge.

37'

Livermore receives his second PL red, and first since Sep 2016 for Hull vs Arsenal.

37'

OFF! Livermore is given his marching orders on review for his challenge on Grealish. His tackle was high and reckless on the Villa skipper. The referee changes his mind after initially giving a yellow card and brandishes the red.

36'

VAR! The referee is instructed to look at the screen at the side of the pitch for Livermore's challenge on Grealish. The Baggies midfielder could well be in trouble here.

33'

Ajayi pulls back Watkins as he gets in front of the defender. On this occasion, Traore fails to beat the first defender with his cross.

31'

Ajayi has to get his clearance spot on as Traore whips a perfect cross into the box. The Baggies defender does well to read the danger and hook it away.

31'

Diangana switches to the right flank, but he brings down Targett in his defensive duties. Villa have a free-kick in the West Brom half.

28'

Gallagher has to be alert covering back to sweep the ball behind for a corner after Grealish finds Watkins, but the midfielder gets a foot in to prevent the forward from firing at goal.

26'

Traore sends Cash down the right flank and the full-back has Watkins to hit in the middle. Cash can only drill his cross on the stretch straight into the arms of Johnstone.

24'

OVER! Cash raids down the right and digs out a dangerous cross for Watkins to attack, but he nods his effort over the bar.

22'

The Baggies build down the right as Gallagher attempts to thread a pass into the inside channel for Furlong. Martinez reads the danger and gathers ahead of the full-back.

21'

OVER! Traore swings a cross in from the left flank and McGinn gets across his man to attack the delivery. However, the Scot can only glance his effort over the bar.

20'

Phillips nudges El Ghazi to the deck down the left flank and Villa win a free-kick in a useful position.

20'

Both players are fine to continue and we're back underway.

19'

Furlong and Targett have a clash of heads when challenging for the ball in the air. Play is halted for the two players to be checked over.

18'

The home side have not been able to break out from the back. Allardyce will be concerned by his side's start to the contest.

16'

Grealish threads a pass through to Watkins, but the forward goes down under little pressure from Ajayi in the box and it travels out for a goal-kick. Watkins was never going to get a penalty there.

15'

OVER! McGinn collects an offload from Grealish and drives towards the edge of the box. He goes for goal from 20 yards, but hammers his effort well over the bar.

13'

Grealish has the chance to release Cash in space down the right flank, but O'Shea gets across to make a vital interception.

11'

Villa are taking the game to the home side and are dominating the early stages.

9'

Grant runs at Targett down the right flank and his cross is deflected dangerous across the face of goal. Cash gets an important header to divert it away before Traore has to clear behind.

8'

El Ghazi has scored in back-to-back away league games for Aston Villa (two goals): he only scored in two of his first 34 league appearances for the club on the road before this (three goals).

7'

El Ghazi latches on to Grealish's ball over the top down the left flank. The winger floats a cross into the middle, but Gibbs is on hand to clear ahead of Traore.

5'

Traore surges down the right flank and bends a perfect cross to the back post for El Ghazi to score.

5'

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! EL GHAZI CONVERTS AT THE BACK POST!!! 1-0!!! Villa take the lead out of nowhere as the winger finishes a precise cross from Traore. Traore runs down the right flank before cutting inside on his left foot. He arcs a dangerous cross to the back post where El Ghazi pounces behind Furlong and steers his strike into the back of the net.

3'

Gibbs tries to work the ball towards Grant, but the forward is caught offside.

2'

Martinez takes a risk as he races off his line to gather a ball over the top. However, he carries it over the edge of his own box on the left flank. The Baggies are awarded a free-kick.

1'

The Baggies almost get themselves in a tangle at the back, but O'Shea manages to get it clear ahead of the lurking Watkins.

1'

We're underway at The Hawthorns.

-

West Brom are unbeaten in their last eight home games against Aston Villa in all competitions (W3 D5), since a 1-2 Premier League loss in September 2008.

-

Smith has made two changes to his side from their draw against Burnley last time out. Both Cash and Luiz return from their respective suspensions to replace El Mohamady and Nakamba, which sees the outgoing players drop to the bench.

-

Allardyce has kept faith with the same line-up that Bilic fielded in his last game against Man City for the clash tonight. Grant leads the line supported by Diangana and Phillips on the flanks. Gallagher will be allowed license to push forward from the middle of the park. O'Shea and Ajayi start in the centre of the defence ahead of Ivanovic.

-

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Neil Taylor, Jed Steer, Conor Hourihane, Marvelous Nakamba, Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, Ahmed El Mohamady, Keinan Davis, Jacob Ramsey.

-

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Kourtney Hause, Tyrone Mings, Matt Targett; John McGinn, Douglas Luiz; Bertrand Traore, Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi; Ollie Watkins.

-

WEST BROM SUBS: Callum Robinson, Kamil Grosicki, Charlie Austin, Filip Krovinovic, Branislav Ivanovic, Kyle Edwards, Lee Peltier, Cedric Kipre, David Button.

-

WEST BROM (4-1-4-1): Sam Johnstone; Darnell Furlong, Semi Ajayi, Dara O'Shea, Kieran Gibbs; Romaine Sawyers; Matt Phillips, Jake Livermore, Conor Gallagher, Grady Diangana; Karlan Grant.

-

Villa played out a goalless draw against Burnley last time out to continue their solid start to the season. Dean Smith's men are sitting at mid-table and have games in hand over their rivals, which could give them the opportunity to move up towards the European spots. The Villans claimed an impressive 1-0 win over Wolves on the road last time out. They will be looking for a similar outcome tonight.

-

Sam Allardyce returns to the Premier League dugout, two-and-a-half years removed from his last managerial post at Everton. The Baggies sacked Slaven Bilic in the aftermath of their 1-1 draw against Manchester City last time out. West Brom begin the evening in 19th place in the table, but would move level on points with 17th-place Fulham with a victory this evening, which would be only their second of the campaign.

-

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between West Brom and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns.

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