West Bromwich Albion 4-0 Burnley
- Published
West Brom's biggest league win since 2012
Baggies climb seven places to 10th
Burnley replace Newcastle at bottom
Berahino hits second brace of season
Clarets without a goal in over eight hours
West Brom manager Alan Irvine secured his first home league win as two goals by Saido Berahino helped send Burnley to the bottom of the table.
Craig Dawson netted his first Baggies goal after meeting Chris Brunt's corner before Berahino's header made it 2-0.
It went from bad to worse for Burnley as Berahino's composed finish added to their misery before Graham Dorrans's shot completed the rout.
The Clarets, still seeking a first win, went closest through Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Sean Dyche's men had started the day in 19th spot.
But they replaced Newcastle United, who are in action on Monday away to Stoke City, at the bottom of the table after their goal difference took a hammering.
The problems are mounting for the newly-promoted side.
Former England captain Jimmy Armfield on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra: |
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"I thought Burnley would have signed a few more players in the summer. They should have dug a little bit deeper if the aim is to try and stay in the Premier League." |
Not only are they without a league win in six attempts, but they have not scored in eight hours and 46 minutes of Premier League action after another timid display in front of the opposition goal.
West Brom keeper Ben Foster was forced to make just one serious save as the hosts dominated from start to finish.
The Baggies climb seven places to 10th ahead of tests away to Liverpool on 4 October and, after the international break, at home to Manchester United on 20 October.
While Berahino got the plaudits for his goals, Dorrans, Chris Brunt and James Morrison were all lively in midfield.
In addition former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott marked his home league debut with a commanding display which contributed to West Brom's second straight top-flight clean sheet.
The game's first serious chance fell to the visitors, Michael Kightly firing over from 20 yards after the Baggies defence had failed to deal with Ross Wallace's corner.
It was one-way traffic after that.
Brunt had already gone close when defender Dawson towered above the Clarets defence to head home from a corner after half an hour.
Tom Heaton produced a fine fingertip save to keep out a vicious 35-yard attempt by Dorrans in the 43rd minute.
But there was nothing the Burnley keeper could do as Berahino made it 2-0 after Morrison's corner had been flicked on by Dorrans on the stroke of half-time.
Dyche made a double change at the interval as Ashley Barnes and on-loan Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah replaced former Baggies defender Steven Reid and Ross Wallace. But it failed to stem the flow of West Brom attacks.
Berahino made it 3-0 in the 57th minute with a cool shot across Heaton following a delightful threaded pass by Dorrans.
Foster was called into action to tip Jutkiewicz's header over the bar.
But Dorrans capped a fine performance with a first-time finish from Cristian Gamboa's 90th-minute cross to round off Irvine's most satisfying day since taking charge of Albion in June.
West Brom boss Alan Irvine told BBC Sport: "Back-to-back wins gives us a lot of self-belief. It gives the lads reward for hard work. No individual errors. Terrific performance all round.
"Saido Berahino can be very good. He's a terrific lad and very, very talented. I spoke to him at half-time and said to be patient and continue making runs. He got his reward for continuing to do that. He's a model professional and has fantastic potential."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "We never got started and never got to grips with the game at all. It's a real low day for us performance-wise.
"There is a reality to it, we've seen results like this in the Premier League and it's happened to us and it's important we grow and learn from it very very quickly."
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