Monday 21 December 2015 08:20, UK
Bournemouth won their third Premier League game in a row as a late Charlie Daniels penalty gave them a 2-1 win against nine-man West Brom.
Gareth McAuley had restored parity after Adam Smith's opener but Daniels rifled his effort from twelve yards out into the top left hand corner with just three minutes of normal time remaining to seal a dramatic win.
Tony Pulis' side will rue indiscipline which proved to be their undoing as James McClean was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Adam Smith in the first half, before Salomon Rondon saw red with seconds left for an altercation with Dan Gosling.
The game was Pulis's 100th as a Premier League manager but he saw his side create little, James Morrison's volley from 25 yards flying wide.
The Baggies were down to 10 men in the 34th minute when McClean was shown a third career red card, which left them stretched to their limit at the break.
The scores remained level at 0-0 at the break as Bournemouth boasted 65 per cent possession but could not carve up many clear cut chances.
However, in the 52nd minute Smith helped the Cherries make the most of their one-man advantage as he rifled a low drive into the bottom right hand corner from 20 yards out.
Eddie Howe's side looked set to cruise to all three points from there on in, but their concentration lapsed as West Brom fought their way back into the match.
Rickie Lambert was brought on with quarter of an hour left as the Baggies went for broke.
It seemed to pay off as Gareth McAuley equalised in the 79th minute with a looping header from Craig Gardner's corner via the post, Rondon ready to pounce had the ball not crossed the line.
Howe's men earned plaudits for fine displays against Manchester United and Chelsea, but their resolve to secure all three points after that setback was equally impressive.
Gosling epitomised Bournemouth's desire and his lung-bursting run into the box was too clever for Darren Fletcher, as his legs tangled with the West Brom man.
Glenn Murray and Joshua King were both off the pitch - the latter unavailable after pulling up in the warm-up - would have been on penalty duty, but Daniels was given the task in their absence.
He finished with aplomb with a little help from the crossbar, sending Boaz Myhill the wrong way but the drama did not end there as the Baggies desperately searched for a second equaliser.
The frustration told as their efforts proved to be in vain and Rondon's dismissal for an off-the-ball clash with Gosling in the 94th minute compounded their woes.
The result sees West Brom remain in 14th place but Bournemouth are now just one point behind them, five clear of the relegation zone at Christmas.
Phil Thompson's Soccer Saturday verdict
"Bournemouth bossed this game - even when it was 11 v 11. They got the ball down, passed it. I wasn't too sure if they were going to create many chances but West Brom just got behind the ball with [Solomon] Rondon up front.
"James McClean thought he should've had a foul so he goes chasing back towards the half-way line, lashed out at Adam Smith and took him out. The crowd were going mad.
"Rondon comes with one of the defenders head-to-head and they're there jostling. Then the next thing he just throws his head at him and rightly so Mike Dean gives him a red card. This was a deserved victory for Bournemouth."
Player ratings
West Brom: Myhill (6), Dawson (5), McAuley (6), Olsson (6), Evans (5) Brunt (6), Fletcher (6), Gardner (6), McClean (2); Morrison; Rondon (4).
Subs used: Sessegnon (6), Lambert, (6) Berahino (6).
Bournemouth: Boruc (6), Smith (9), Francis (6), Cook (6), Daniels, Arter (7), Gosling (7), Surman (6), Stanislas (6.5), Ritchie (6), Murray (6).
Subs used: Pugh (6), Rantie (6).
Man of the match: Adam Smith
