Four second-half goals as Albion end the season in style

Albion secure eighth place with a 4-1 win at Tottenham as Jack Hinshelwood (2), Matt O'Riley and Diego Gomez hit the target.

Bruce Talbot

2025-05-25T18:00+01:00

Delight for Jack Hinshelwood in front of the Albion fans as he celebrates his second goal. 📷 James Boardman.

Albion scored four goals in a stunning second-half display to seal our third top-ten Premier League finish with a handsome victory over Spurs.

Tottenham’s Europa League party looked like it would continue when Dominic Solanke scored a first-half penalty against an Albion team without a recognised striker.

Jack Hinshelwood makes it 1-1 from close range. 📷 James Boardman.

But Fabian Hurzeler’s men turned it round after the break in some style. Jack Hinshelwood found the roof of the net from close range to equalise before back-heeling a sensational second goal midway through the second half.

Once again Fabian Hurzeler’s substitutions had an impact. Kaoru Mitoma was at his sparkling best while Diego Gomez won the late penalty which another of the subs Matt O’Riley converted with aplomb before the Paraguayan got his first goal in Albion colours with a brilliant strike in stoppage time.

Jack Hinshelwood backheels his second goal. 📷 James Boardman.

Carlos Baleba also hit the post and Albion restricted Tottenham to very little as they equaled their Premier League points record of 61 after a fourth win in their last five games.

Not surprisingly, Spurs fans were in party mood before kick-off but Albion, with Igor making his first appearance since 4 January, had early opportunities to change the mood.

In the third minute Yankuba Minteh expertly cushioned a long ball from Jan Paul van Hecke into Simon Adingra’s path but he fired wide before Mats Wieffer broke into the box and volleyed over.

Jack Hinshelwood leads the celebrations in front of the Albion fans. 📷 James Boardman.

Wieffer made on excellent tackle to stop Mathys Tel in his tracks but in the 19th minute he trod on the French forward’s foot inside the box for a penalty which Solanke swept into the roof of the net.

Brajan Gruda and Hinshelwood were furthest forward for Albion who got themselves into some promising situations in the first half without seriously testing Vicario in Tottenham’s goal. At the other end Bart Verbruggen produced a brilliant save with his legs to keep out Tel’s shot six minutes before the break.

Bart Verbruggen denies Mathys Tel with a brilliant first-half save. 📷 James Boardman.

Mitoma and Gomez came on at the interval and within six minutes of the restart Mitoma made an impact, winning a corner which Gruda swung into the box. Adam Webster won the first contact and Hinshelwood swiveled to fire into the roof of the net from close range. In the next attack the ball was worked to Gomez, but he fired straight at Vicario.

Spurs’ midweek hero Brennan Johnson shot wide from a great position after fine work by the impressive Tel before Minteh found a yard of space on the corner of the six yard box and Vicario had to parry his shot over. Albion went even closer from the corner, Baleba firing low and hard from the edge of the box and his shot beat the keeper but came back off the left-hand post.

Matt O'Riley scores Albion's third goal from the penalty spot. 📷 James Boardman.

A second Albion goal was coming, and Hinshelwood improvised brilliantly to score it in the 64th minute. Again Spurs didn’t deal with Gomez's corner, van Hecke won it in the air and when the ball dropped Hinshelwood nonchalantly back-heeled it past Vicario from close range.

Albion were in control and got a third with three minutes to go when Yves Bissouma brought down Gomez in the box and O’Riley made no mistake from the spot.

Delight for Diego Gomez after he scored his first Albion goal with a brilliant stoppage-time strike. 📷 James Boardman.

There was time for James Milner, absent since the Arsenal game in August, to make a late cameo before Gomez produced a very late contender for goal of the season. Mitoma laid the ball off to the midfielder who took a touch before lashing a right-foot shot from 25 yards into the top corner. A fitting finale to round off another season to remember.

The line-up

Verbruggen, Wieffer, Webster, van Hecke, Igor Julio (Veltman 59), Adingra (Mitoma 45), Baleba, Ayari (Gomez 45), Minteh (Milner 90+3), Hinshelwood, Gruda (O’Riley 75).

Subs not used: Rushworth, Dunk, Cashin, Howell.

Referee: R. Jones

Attendance: 61,449

Fabian Hurzeler's thoughts...

Fabian Hurzeler thanks the fans after the final whistle at the end of another great season. 📷 James Boardman.

"I told the players at half-time to keep the intensity high and be more 'clean' in possession and with our ball touches and passing. And to just stay calm. I think the players did a great job in the second half - it was a well deserved win in the end.

"I'm very happy for Jack [Hinshelwood]. He always shows personality whether it's in training or in games. He never gives up and deserved his goals. And Diego [Gomez]'s goal and his celebration showed the team spirit in our squad. It was a nice moment for him and the team.

"We did everything we could [to reach Europe], especially in the last few weeks. We will reflect on the season and try to build on the foundation because we have finished the season strongly."