West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Swansea City: Obafemi scores late winner

Swansea City signed wing-back Matthew Sorinola on a season-long loan from Belgian top-flight club Union SG

Substitute Michael Obafemi came off the bench to give Swansea City a pulsating 3-2 win against West Bromwich Albion.

Matthew Sorinola put Swansea ahead at half-time, but Jake Livermore smashed home on 48 minutes, before Grady Diangana completed the turnaround.

Substitute Olivier Ntcham equalised for Swansea, before Karlan Grant saw his late penalty saved by Steven Benda.

Obafemi then fired home on 89 minutes as Swansea snatched all three points from Steve Bruce's draw specialists.

The defeat adds to the pressure on Baggies boss Bruce, whose Baggies side have won just once in the Championship this term.

They remain 21st in the table, while Swansea's win - their third on the spin against Albion - lifts them to 10th.

A draw looked the most likely result from the outset, for a Baggies side who had drawn seven of their previous 10 games, but this was the most frustrating result for the hosts.

Bruce made one change from the side that impressively halted Norwich's winning run last time out, with Australian midfielder Tom Rogic handed a first start in place of Jayson Molumby.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin also made one change, having been forced to alter the side that eased past Hull 3-0 in Shota Arveladze's last game in charge, with injured Wales midfielder Joe Allen replaced by Luke Cundle.

The visitors began as they ended against Hull, flying out of the traps at The Hawthorns as goalkeeper David Button did superbly to deny Sorinola's shot after a corner, but it provided only a short reprieve.

Swansea's high-tempo start was rewarded on six minutes when Sorinola headed home his first goal for the club from Ryan Manning's corner.

The hosts only threatened in the early exchanges through Swansea mistakes, but both defender Kyle Naughton and goalkeeper Benda were handed reprieves after conceding possession.

Swansea came close to doubling their lead on 16 minutes when Manning again crossed dangerously, but Joel Piroe headed wide.

Diangana looked Albion's most likely route back into things and he forced Benda to save on 26 minutes as the hosts grew into proceedings after their slow start.

Olivier Ntcham scores Swansea's equaliser againmst West Brom

Another decent chance for the Baggies came and went as Jed Wallace uncharacteristically shot off target when in space, while Benda had to be alert to deny Brandon Thomas-Asante after he poked at goal from a corner.

An entertaining contest continued to produce chances at both ends with Button tipping over Cundle's volley before West Brom missed two golden chances within 60 seconds.

First Diangana headed wide from a cross before Wallace missed an even better opportunity on 39 minutes, firing wide despite having time and space to pick his spot.

However, the Baggies did find a goal within three minutes of the restart from an unlikely source, with Livermore crashing home his first goal since February 2020, ending a wait of 949 days.

The Baggies completed the turnaround on 65 minutes when Naughton again gave the ball away and this time his side were fully punished as Wallace found Diangana who finished assuredly.

Ntcham was introduced in response by Martin and within five minutes he rewarded his manager with a fine finish - in off the post - after a powerful run.

Both sides pushed for a winner and it looked like it would arrive for the hosts when Armstrong Oko-Flex fouled Grant, but his penalty was saved by Benda.

That allowed for a final twist in the tale as Ntcham fed Obafemi, who finished with aplomb in the final minute of normal time.

Who's next?

Both sides return to action on Wednesday night, when Albion go to Preston and Swansea visit Slaven Bilic's Watford.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce:

"I don't expect reassurances. I will get on with the job. We need to turn it around and I'm convinced we will. At the moment things are tough. We're nowhere near what is acceptable.

"When I look around me and see managers gone, we all understand the game, but I've not given up yet.

"Had we scored the penalty, the game was ours but that's where we are at the minute."

Swansea City boss Russell Martin:

"I'm so proud, for the character, the willingness to run for each other, and the trust they showed in each other at times to come back from going behind in the second half.

"A bit of anxiety crept in after we started the game so well. We limited them to very little in open play and we looked a real threat.

"Steven had a big moment with the penalty save, and the subs were incredible when they came on."