West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa moved up into the top half of the Premier League tonight following a comfortable win at the Hawthorns which left West Brom deep in relegation trouble.
The appointment of Big Sam Allardyce as the Baggies’ new boss was this week’s big Premier League 2020 news but two goals from Anwar El Ghazi and a Bertrand Traore classic spoiled his entrance, as his team went down with a whimper after skipper Jake Livermore was sent off.
Highlights of the game
Well, we expected Allardyce’s early attention to be on his defensive unit which has conceded 26 goals in the opening 13 games, a tally surpassed only by Leeds who conceded six earlier today. But it only took Villa five minutes to breach the Baggies’ defence. Anwar El Ghazi missed a hatful of chances in the Villains’ draw with Burnley last Monday, but he made no mistake tonight when Bertrand Traore swung a ball across to him at the back post, finishing with style.
It was all Villa and the visitors came close to doubling their lead on 15 minutes when John McGinn fired just over after a lovely passing move. And the Scot threatened again when Traore delivered a free-kick into the danger area, this time flicking the ball narrowly over the bar. And then Ollie Watkins missed with a header when he should have hit the target.
The Baggies were on the back foot and their job became doubly hard, on 36 minutes, when experienced midfielder Jake Livermore was sent off for a rash lunge which left Jack Grealish rolling around in agony.
El Ghazi took a chance at the start of the second half with a long-range effort, but it was easy for Sam Johnstone. The West Brom keeper was given the hurry up from the referee as he took his time over a clearance, trying to slow Villa down. And you could see why when Grealish made his way to the bi-line before crossing for McGinn who missed a sitter with his head.
Johnstone was fast becoming the busiest man on the field, taking the ball off the head of Ollie Watkins before he could convert a cross from El Ghazi and then, after being put in by Grealish, Watkins was denied by the keeper with a fine save at his near post.
With 20 minutes remaining and still in the game, West Brom broke out a couple of times forcing Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez to clear his lines. But Villa were still the side most likely to score, and they thought they had when Watkins finished a beautifully worked move, but VAR ruled the goal out as the striker was an inch or so offside.
Johnstone made another great save to deny El Ghazi but he was beaten twice in two minutes as Villa finished the contest in style.
First Grealish fed Traore and the winger cut inside before sliding the ball into the corner of the net, and then El Ghazi scored his second with a clean run on goal and emphatic finish as the West Brom defence parted.
Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi celebrates with his teammates after scoring their third goal against West Bromwich Albion
Key statistics
This is Sam Allardyce’s eighth managerial appointment in the Premier League, and only the second time he’s started with a defeat.
It was the first time the Baggies have lost to Villa at home in nine meetings, but they have lost their final game before Christmas for the fifth top-flight campaign in succession.
They are the only side yet to score a headed goal in the Premier League this season, but for Villa it was a great night as they won their fifth away game of the season. They already have four more points away from home than in the whole of the 2019/20 season.
What’s next?
Next up, Villa host Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and then they are away to Chelsea on Monday 28thDecember. Two or three points from those two games will continue their progress.
West Brom are away to Liverpool on the 27th, and that will be some test as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are beginning to gather some serious momentum, dismantling a normally resolute Crystal Palace to hand out a 7-0 thumping on Saturday. The Premier League 2020 betting odds have the Baggies heavily odds on to take the drop and they need to start gathering points soon. But they will probably have to wait until their next home game, when they entertain Leeds United, to have a realistic chance.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side thrashed Newcastle last week but they took a right royal thumping at the hands of Manchester United today, losing 6-2, so expect the Yorkshire side to go for it, whatever the outcome.
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