Two Own goals and a share of the spoils in a dramatic four goal thriller summed up Saturday’s action at the Hawthorns when Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion welcomed Nottingham Forest.
The Baggies were looking to extend their lead atop the table by another three points, with the title and promotion race growing increasingly tantalizing, and they got off to a good start.
Defending well in the opening minutes, Slaven Bilic had opted for a comfortable 4-3-3 formation and had Nigerian Center half Semi Ajayi forming a partnership with Kyle Bartley.
It was the host who would break the deadlock after 37 minutes, through Callum Robinson.
However, they were pegged back after a nightmarish own goal by Bartley, on the stroke of half-time.
After the restart the hosts had their lead restored and it was fortuitous, coming from an own goal.
Tobias Figueiredo turned the ball into the back of his own net in the 65th minute with Bilic’s men cranking up the pressure on Forest’s defence.
As the game reached it’s dying moments, Ajayi was left fuming, furiously, when his headed clearance from an in-swinger wasn’t well dealt with by his teammates and the slack defending on the left side opened up space for Matty Cash to smash home a belter right into the top of the net.
The goal brought the sides level on 90+1 minutes and though the hosts pushed even in additional time, they had a goal chalked off, and settled for a share of the spoils.
Saturday’s result coupled with Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Bristol City means, the points gap between first and second is down to just four.
West Brom Manager, Bilic analyzed his team’s chances of finishing top by the end of the season and remarked they stood a good chance.
“We are all disappointed, I’m disappointed but if we continue to play like this with the same patterns, energy and quality then we have a really good chance.”
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