Burnley 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
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Hal Robson-Kanu (second right) is shown red after his challenge on Matt Lowton
Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu scored the winner and was later sent off as West Brom made it two wins from two with victory at Burnley.
The match was short on entertainment until Robson-Kanu gave it a shot of adrenaline with a brilliant strike. The Wales international, who came on seven minutes earlier, pounced on a Matt Phillips flick, held off two challenges and fired in low past keeper Tom Heaton.
However, the 28-year-old striker did not see out the rest of the match as he was shown a red card in the 83rd minute for catching Matt Lowton with his elbow.
Baggies end 39-year wait |
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West Brom have recorded back-to-back wins at the start of the season in the top flight for the first time since 1978 |
Burnley wasted chances at the other end, and will be hoping Leeds striker Chris Wood, who they look likely to sign, will be less profligate.
Ben Mee had the Clarets' best chance but missed with a two-yard header, and team-mate Johann Berg Gudmundsson also went close with a low curling shot.
Robson-Kanu's 20-minute cameo
Hal Robson-Kanu scored eight minutes after coming on in the second half
It was a brief, yet eventful appearance by Robson-Kanu.
His goal was brilliant, and will rank alongside the strikes against Southampton last season and his Euro 2016 effort against Belgium.
This one was about perseverance. The forward, with the ball in possession, battled past Gudmundsson and James Tarkowski before striking past Heaton.
He led the line well after the goal, but then showed a bit too much aggression as he challenged Lowton for the ball right in front of referee Martin Atkinson.
There were few complaints from both Robson-Kanu and his team-mates.
Pulis pleased with 'fantastic' Baggies' win
Burnley restricted by tight Baggies
West Brom manager Tony Pulis will have been delighted with his side's display, particularly at the back.
The visitors restricted Burnley to largely half-chances, with six of the 15 efforts on goal falling to Jeff Hendrick.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had one angled strike in the area superbly blocked and was rushed by the Baggies backline into producing inaccurate shots.
Iceland international Gudmundsson was unlucky to see his excellent low curling shot drift wide, but his team-mates Mee and Jon Walters will not want to see a replay of their golden heading chances.
'There's good spirit in the Baggies dressing room' - reaction
West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "It is a great start for us, especially with two clean sheets.
"I've not looked at the red card incident. I don't want to say things that will get me in trouble. The decisions stands. I am so pleased we got through that final 15 minutes with 10 men. There is good spirit in the dressing room and we needed that today. Our fitness level were fantastic."
On Jonny Evans and reported interest from Manchester City: "They all deal through the football club, I won't get involved in that."
Football can be so unfair sometimes - Sean Dyche
Burnley boss Sean Dyche: "The game is unfair sometimes and today I thought it was. We gave a very good performance, we created enough to get something from the game.
"I have been very pleased. It is a tough one today because I was not happy with the result but I was happy with the performance. We are laying down some good markers for how we want to play and where we want to be."
On link with Leeds striker Chris Wood: "We've been linked with lots of players. We will watch this space and see what comes. We are still in the market, still looking at different options."
Man of the match - Ahmed Hegazi
West Brom's Ahmed Hegazi was a man-mountain at the back for the Baggies. The on-loan Egyptian needed treatment from a bad cut early in the match but soldiered on, making vital clearances for his side.
'One-nil to the Albion'
Burnley have won just one of their last seven home Premier League games (W1 D2 L4), after winning five in a row before that at Turf Moor.
Burnley's haul of 20 shots was their joint-second highest tally ever in a Premier League game.
Robson-Kanu's goal on 71 minutes was the first shot on target of the game.
West Brom have registered two clean sheets in a row in the Premier League for the first time since October 2015.
Robson-Kanu is only the fourth player to come on as a sub, score and be sent off in the same Premier League game, and the first since Ivan Klasnic for Bolton in October 2010.
In their two Premier League games this season, the Clarets have seen their opponents receive three red cards in total.
Fifteen of Pulis' 31 Premier League wins as West Bromwich Albion manager have been by a 1-0 scoreline.
What's next?
After the Lancashire derby against Blackburn in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, the Clarets are at Tottenham next Sunday (16:00 BST).
The Baggies are at Accrington on Tuesday in the EFL Cup before they host Stoke next Sunday (13:30 BST).
- Published18 August 2017
