Mason Holgate tragic in 2/10, Styles impresses – West Brom ratings v Bournemouth
West Brom exited the FA Cup with a 5-1 defeat to Bournemouth in their third-round tie at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The Baggies began brightly and took the lead against their Premier League hosts, as Caleb Taylor headed in from close range after Grady Diangana’s effort hit the bar – but Bournemouth were soon level after Justin Kluivert tapped beyond Joe Wildsmith at the far post.
Bournemouth completed their first-half comeback within just seven minutes, as Mason Holgate was turned and beaten in the box for Dango Ouattara to put his side 2-1 in front. Ouattara soon had a double, making it 3-1 after a fast break on the counter-attack.
It was 4-1 almost straight after half-time as substitute Antoine Semenyo lashed home, and other than a few half-chances for Jayson Molumby and Jed Wallace, the second period was nothing more than a precession for Bournemouth, who added a fifth right at the death as Albion exit the FA Cup.
West Brom News rates the performance of each player out of 10.
Joe Wildsmith – 5
Made a superb stop to keep out Ouattara’s header, but could do nothing to deny Kluivert tapping in at the far post to equalise. Did manage to keep the hosts at bay immediately afterwards, saving Brooks’ low shot from the right, but should have done a lot better for both Ouattara and Semenyo’s goals. Made another save late in the day to deny Semenyo, only for Daniel Jebbison to then tap in the rebound.
Darnell Furlong – 5
Furlong’s free-kick sparked Albion’s opener, with Diangana heading an effort off the bar before Taylor finished it off. A long throw-in ended up working in Bournemouth’s favour as they broke clear to make it 3-1, and Furlong picked up a second-half booking for flying into the back of Julio Soler.
Mason Holgate and West Brom run ragged v Bournemouth
Mason Holgate – 2
Booked early on, Holgate got lucky not to concede a penalty as he scythed Justin Kluivert down on the edge of the box at 1-0. Then beaten far too easily as Ouattara peeled off him to put the hosts 2-1 in front, before bailing Taylor out from a stray pass.
Caleb Taylor – 4
Back in Baggies colours nine days after being recalled from his loan at Wycombe, Taylor headed Albion in front from close range after just 14 minutes. Used his height to good effect at corners, but was less assured with the ball at his feet, being caught cold by Ouattara and fouling him to receive a yellow card, before almost gifting the Bournemouth man a hat-trick only for Ouattara to fluff his lines.
Callum Styles – 6
Made a superb challenge to deny Ouattara after the Bournemouth winger had beaten Taylor in the box, and produced some great link-up play with Swift at the other end before being forced wide by Max Aarons. Another last-ditch block in the second half denied Ouattara a hat-trick, with Albion all at sea.
Uros Racic (off for Jayson Molumby, 54′) – 4
At the centre of an embarrassing moment early on, mis-hitting a Fellows cross miles off-target before being easily dispossessed by Aarons. Had a chance of redemption in the second half, doing brilliantly to carve out a close-range chance, but firing wide of the far post and being hooked soon afterwards.
Alex Mowatt (off for Ousmane Diakite, 53′) – 3
Tried to pull the strings but was soon overrun by Bournemouth’s fluidity in midfield. Sat deep to allow Racic to have an influence further forward, but was often left open and forced into last-ditch defending in his 53 minutes.
Tom Fellows (off for Jed Wallace, 63′) – 4
Turned Bournemouth debutant Soler inside out within the opening minutes, getting to the byline and putting in a few dangerous crosses, but Bournemouth soon got to grips with Albion’s dangerman and effectively marked him out of the game until he was withdrawn.
John Swift (off for Mikey Johnston, 63′) – 3
Blew the chance to spring a trap at 1-0 as he overran the pass from Grant on the break and couldn’t provide the link-up play Albion needed for much of the match, as Bournemouth ripped through the midfield with Swift taken off early.
Grady Diangana – 4
Rose high to send a looping header off the crossbar, as Taylor headed in the rebound from close range to give Albion a shock lead, but couldn’t produce much else on the ball in the final third and it was a surprise to see him stay on for the full 90 minutes.
Karlan Grant (off for Devante Cole, 77′) – 4
Starting up front in place of Josh Maja, Grant had Albion’s best chances early on, with one shot through a crowd blocked and another rattling the base of the post. Some sloppy passing almost let Bournemouth in after their equaliser, but Styles bailed Grant out. Teed up by Johnston for a rare second-half chance, but couldn’t convert in a performance which showed just how reliant Albion are on their top scorer.
Substitutes:
Jayson Molumby (on for Alex Mowatt, 53′) – 3 – Couldn’t provide the finish after the ball broke for him in the box, not pulling the trigger in time before Bournemouth set off on the counter.
Ousmane Diakite (on for Uros Racic, 53′) – 4 – Had some tidy touches after coming on and took Mowatt’s place as the deepest-lying midfielder, but wasn’t happy with Ben Winterburn late on and sparked a flare-up in midfield.
Mikey Johnston (on for John Swift, 63′) – 5 – Provided a rare bright spot for Albion in the second half, beating James Hill down the left before cutting back for Grant and resulting in a Baggies corner.
Jed Wallace (on for Tom Fellow, 63′) – 4 – Came on to join Grant in an unorthodox front two for the visitors, the Baggies skipper had a go from distance but Kepa in the Bournemouth goal was easily able to keep it out.
Devante Cole (on for Karlan Grant, 77′) – N/A
In other West Brom news, Albion have held “sensational” talks this week over the possible return of a club legend to The Hawthorns.
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