Joao and Welbeck seal big win over Bournemouth

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Strikers both score their seventh goals of the season in 2-1 victory that lifts Albion to eighth in the Premier League.

Bruce Talbot

2025-02-25T21:30+00:00

Danny's delight: Danny Welbeck celebrates his first goal since October and seventh of the season. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Albion claimed a third successive Premier League win thanks to strikers Joao Pedro and substitute Danny Welbeck.

Joao gave Albion an early lead from the penalty spot after being brought down by Kepa and, four minutes after coming off the bench, Welbeck also scored his seventh goal of the season with a superb finish after Georginio Rutter set him up.

A hard-fought fourth win in a row in all competitions lifted Albion up to eighth, and only one point off the Champions League places.

Diego Gomez leads the celebrations with goalscorer Joao Pedro after Albion went in front. 📷 James Boardman.

It was full-throttle from the first whistle. Bart Verbruggen saved an early effort from Ryan Christie before Albion, led by the impressive Diego Gomez, hit back.

Georginio Rutter headed narrowly wide after Kepa made a hash of clearing Yankuba Minteh’s cross before Gomez started showcasing his outstanding passing range. Kaoru Mitoma got goal side of his marker but guided his shot inches wide of the far post and then in the 12th minute Gomez played another great ball forward which Joao fastened onto. Kepa came out and brought him down for an obvious penalty which Joao coolly converted by sending Kepa the wrong way.

Joao Pedro sends Kepa the wrong way from the penalty spot to make it 1-0. 📷 Simon Roe.

The Cherries were a threat on transition and Antoine Semenyo was through in the 34th minute but Verbruggen made an important save with a firm right hand. Albion responded impressively and Tariq Lamptey crossed at the end of a sweeping move to Mitoma, whose volley beat Kepa but came back off the post. It had been a breathless first half.

I can't face it... Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh celebrate after Joao converted an early penalty. 📷 James Boardman.

Kluivert scored a stunning equaliser on 61 minutes. Cutting in from the left he unleashed a brilliant right-foot shot from outside the box which arrowed into the top corner. Incredibly, it was the Dutchman’s tenth goal in away games this season and Bournemouth would have gone in front seven minutes later but for Verbruggen, who produced an instinctive save with his leg to deny Alex Scott at point-blank range.

Joao Pedro is sent tumbling by Kepa for a penalty which the Brazilian converted. 📷 James Boardman.

Hurzeler made a triple change and it paid off with 15 minutes to go. One of the replacements Yasin Ayari found Rutter on the half-turn and his clever pass picked out Welbeck who instinctively diverted it past Kepa and in on off the far post.

Albion still had work to do but they managed the last 15 minutes-plus impressively. The push for Europe is gathering momentum.

The line-up

Albion: Verbruggen, Webster, van Hecke, Estupinan (Hinshelwood 71), Baleba (Wieffer 84), Gomez (Ayari 71), Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter (March 90), Joao Pedro (Welbeck 71).

Subs: Rushworth, Gruda, Adingra, O’Riley.

Referee: M. Oliver

Attendance: 31,138

Hurzeler: It was a lucky win

Fabian Hurzeler meets Andoni Iraola before kick-off at the Amex. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

"In the first half we won a lot of duels and second balls and we deserved to lead. We could easily have led by two goals at half-time but you can’t change that and we had to refocus and that’s what we tried to do. But in the second half we suffered.

"The goal came out of nowhere and was an amazing shot and after that we had to stick together. We weren’t that aggressive, and Bournemouth controlled the game. The momentum changed a little bit so it was a difficult situation for us and in the end we were a lucky winner.

"But we did the basics right. To win a Premier League game is so tough. We tried to outrun them and win our personal duels and that was the key to winning the game. Everyone has a responsibility to defend and I saw that from us as a team - we wanted to defend and attack together. We pushed the limits tonight. It wasn’t the most beautiful game from us but we were very effective.

On pushing for Europe... "I’m not a big fan for emphasising one victory too much or one loss too much. When we had the big loss against Nottingham Forest it was more about the reaction – that we have to work hard and go game by game and see what happens.

On strikers in form... "It’s important of course to have strikers who can score but we know the qualities of Danny [Welbeck], Georginio [Rutter] and Joao Pedro. They can score out of nowhere but it’s also important what they do against the ball, that they understand they are the first defenders and have to help the team. That’s the first thing I judge them on and they again did it really well."