APP Bournemouth 1 West Brom 0: Jack Wilshere makes bow as Callum Wilson’s first goal in nearly a year hands Cherries win
Arsenal loanee made debut off the bench but it was striker Wilson who secured win with first strike since injury return
CALLUM WILSON scored his first goal since returning from a horrific leg injury as Bournemouth coasted to a 1-0 win over West Brom.
Loanee Jack Wilshere was handed his Cherries debut by Eddie Howe, but neither side could find the breakthrough in a drab first half.
Gareth McAulely came close to putting the Baggies ahead in the second half but was denied by Artur Boruc, before Matty Phillips saw his free-kick strike the woodwork.
But it was Wilson who had the final say this afternoon, with the striker flicking home with the inside of his heel following a cross from Adam Smith.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
- Jack Wilshere might be adjusting to a new life on the South Coast but at least he will be familiar with his position on the bench.
- Another transfer window has been and gone yet Saido Berahino is still at West Brom. Maybe he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
- Tony Pulis puts in more of a shift on the sidelines than some of his players do on the pitch.
- When Jordan Ibe put a corner straight into touch, he made a big show of stamping down a divot by the flag. Yeah, it was the pitch’s fault.
- Bournemouth fans took to counting the time it took Albion keeper Ben Foster to take his goal-kicks. That’s how exciting it was.
- Guochuan Lai might want to think twice about handing over that £170million cheque to complete his Albion takeover this week.
- Why did Manchester United sell Jonny Evans if they were going to replace him with Daley Blind?
- The TV monitors in the Press box weren’t working, which turned out to be a blessing as we didn’t have to watch any of this for a second time.
- Stats show that Bournemouth cover more ground than any other Premier League team, which proves that you can run but you can also hide.
- Record signing Nacer Chadli is not so much a marquee signing for Albion, more of a one-man pop-up tent.
BIG PICTURE
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
BOURNEMOUTH: Boruc 7, Smith 7, Francis 7, Cook 7, Daniels 7, Ibe 6 (Wilshere 6), Arter 6, Surman 6, Stanislas 6 (Gosling 6), King 7 (Gradel 6), Wilson 7
Subs not used: Afobe, Smith, Wilson, Federici
Goal: Wilson 79
Booked: Smith
WEST BROM: Foster 6, Dawson 6, McAuley 7, Evans 7, Galloway 7, Fletcher 6 (Gardner 5), Yacob 6 (Leko 6), Phillips 7, Field 6, Chadli 6, Berahino 6 (Rondon 5)
Subs not used: Nyom, Olsson, Myhill, McClean
Booked: Evans, Yacob, Field
THEY SAID:
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: “There’s such small margins between teams at this level, we had to be very patient, but it was a great goal by Callum Wilson.
“I’m really pleased for him, players go through highs and lows, he’s had a severe knock with his injury but he always shows enthusiasm and brightness, and you could see from his celebration how much this meant to him.”