Summary

  • West Brom regain Championship top spot with classy win

  • Matheus Pereira scores one and sets up other four for dominant Baggies

  • Semi Ajayi, Hal Robson-Kanu, Matt Phillips and Kyle Edwards also on target

  • Sam Surridge bundles home from corner for Swansea

  • Baggies unbeaten at home this season - and for 16 games in total

  • Swansea unbeaten away record ends emphatically

  1. Yesterday's headlinespublished at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom 3-1 Swansea

    Leeds.Image source, Rex Features

    As usual, there was plenty going on in the Championship yesterday. Here's our pick of the happenings:

    • Leeds reclaim top spot with a Yorkshire derby victory at Huddersfield.
    • Bristol City rock Fulham's automatic promotion hopes with victory at Craven Cottage
    • Luton score twice in the final six minutes to beat relegation rivals Wigan
    • Michael O'Neill slams his 'fragile' Stoke side after defeat at Hull

    You can read reports and reaction from all of those games, as well as the rest of Saturday's Championship encounters here.

  2. Match statspublished at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom 3-1 Swansea

    We've had 21 shots in that first half and 11 of them were on target! Some teams go weeks without that many but this has been as open a game as you could wish for.

    Swansea have matched the Baggies in terms of possession but Albion have been clinical in the final third.

    StatsImage source, BBC Sport
  3. HALF-TIMEpublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom 3-1 Swansea

    Phew, the referee blows for half-time and allows everyone to catch their breath after a mad 20 minutes before the break.

    It was a very open game from the off, but we waited until the 25th minute for the opener which came from the head of Baggies defender Semi Ajayi.

    The hosts' impressive Brazilian schemer Matheus Pereira added the second, finishing off a lovely flowing move, but Swansea hit back just five minutes later through Sam Surridge's scrappy goal.

    But after getting themselves back into the game, they gave the ball away and allowed Hal Robson-Kanu to restore Albion's two-goal lead just before half-time.

    A brilliant first half here at The Hawthorns - let's hope there's more of the same to come!

  4. goal

    GOAL: West Brom 3-1 Swanseapublished at 43 mins

    Hal Robson-Kanu

    Hal Robson-Kanu.Image source, Rex Features

    Another one!

    Swansea will be absolutely kicking themselves as they give the ball away from a throw-in and Matheus Pereira picks up the loose pass.

    He slots in Hal Robson-Kanu who finishes nicely past Woodman to restore West Brom's two-goal cushion before half-time.

    Swans defender Mike van der Hoorn was playing the Welshman on but in fairness he was back awaiting the ball from a team-mate and the pace of West Brom's counter caught him out.

    Time for any more before the break I wonder?

  5. goal

    GOAL: West Brom 2-1 Swanseapublished at 39 mins

    Sam Surridge

    Sam Surridge scores.Image source, Rex Features

    Swansea have one back out of nowhere and it's a curious-looking goal!

    It comes from a corner which is missed by everyone until it hits Sam Surridge at the back post.

    He can't sort his feet out to connect properly but it bounces back off Kyle Bartley down to the Swans player on the ground and he sticks a leg out to prod it into the goal.

    It won't win any awards but Swansea's travelling contingent don't care!

    Game on!

  6. goal

    GOAL: West Brom 2-0 Swanseapublished at 33 mins

    Matheus Pereira

    Matheus Pereira.Image source, Rex Features

    Knife through butter.

    A wonderfully slick move sees West Ham loanee Grady Diangana slip the ball to the overlapping Kieran Gibbs who cuts it back to Matheus Pereira who connects beautifully and guides it past Freddie Woodman to make it two.

    A really nice goal from the hosts - they made that look easy.

    What have Swansea got as way of a response? That unbeaten away record is under serious threat.

  7. goal

    GOAL: West Brom 1-0 Swanseapublished at 25 mins

    Semi Ajayi

    Semi Ajayi.Image source, Rex Features

    Breakthrough!

    Matheus Pereira's deep corner is headed back across goal by Kyle Bartley and it takes a slight deflection off a Swansea defender before gliding towards Semi Ajayi, who heads powerfully home.

    As it stands, that goal will send the Baggies back to the top of the Championship.

  8. CLOSE!published at 22 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Close! Very close!

    Kyle Bartley meets a free-kick with a strong header, but it's straight at Freddie Woodman and he parries.

    The ball drops and it's just waiting to be booted into the net, but Swansea get bodies in the way and Woodman can gather.

    How is this still 0-0?!

  9. Postpublished at 20 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Andre Ayew joins the party and flashes a well-struck shot over the bar for the visitors.

    We've had nine shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes!

    A goal can't be too far away... can it?

  10. Postpublished at 17 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Still very open with both sides looking dangerous.

    First, Swansea's Kristoffer Peterson cuts in from the left and tests Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone with a drive.

    The Baggies then go up the other end and Jake Livermore forces Freddie Woodman into a save, tipping the 25-yard effort over the bar.

    Who's your money on for the opener?

  11. Postpublished at 14 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Swansea enjoy some respite with an attacking free-kick well defended by the hosts.

    The resulting corner is imaginative and nicely-worked but doesn't quite come off.

    However, it isn't fully cleared, allowing Sam Surridge to sting the palms of Sam Johnstone for the first time.

    All of a sudden this is very good Swansea pressure - a great response.

  12. Women's Super Leaguepublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    This tasty Championship clash is not the only football fare on offer this Sunday lunchtime.

    We've also got live text coverage of the Women's Super League here.

    And there have been three goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game between Everton and Manchester United...

  13. Postpublished at 10 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    The Baggies are getting a grip on the game.

    Plenty of possession is driving Swansea backwards towards their own penalty area.

    No clear-cut chances to report as yet, but I don't think we'll be waiting too long for the first.

  14. Postpublished at 5 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Matheus Pereira.Image source, Rex Features

    This very open start is just what we want to see!

    Kristoffer Peterson nods over the bar, before dangerous Baggies forward Matheus Pereira tries his luck from distance.

    It's very entertaining Sunday fare thus far.

    Don't forget to get involved today using #bbcefl.

  15. Postpublished at 2 mins

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    Lively start as an error by Kyle Bartley almost sees the yellow-shirted Swans get in-behind.

    But the Baggies win the ball back quickly and the pacy Grady Diangana strides upfield and whips across a dangerous ball which is cleared.

    Just a hint of what Swansea will be up against today.

    Grady Diangana.Image source, Getty Images
  16. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 min

    West Brom 0-0 Swansea

    We're underway!

    Both teams wearing black armbands in tribute to Ron Saunders, who died yesterday at the age of 87.

    He remains the only manager to have taken charge of Midlands rivals Aston Villa, West Brom and Birmingham City - ending his managerial career at The Baggies, retiring in 1987.

    Saunders guided Villa to the First Division title in 1981, before departing during their European Cup-winning campaign the following season.

    You can read more about the late Ron Saunders here.

    West Brom v Swansea.Image source, BBC Sport
  17. Get involvedpublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    #bbcefl

    It's an important game in the race for automatic promotion and the top six today, with a number of sides jostling for position - and you can get involved by letting us know your thoughts.

    Baggies fans - is it just a straight battle between you and Leeds for the title or does any other side worry you?

    And Swansea supporters - can Steve Cooper lead you into the play-offs and back into the top flight in his first season in charge in south Wales?

    Use #bbcefl on Twitter to get involved.

  18. Something's gotta give (unless it's a draw)published at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom v Swansea (12:00 GMT)

    This tantalising Sunday lunchtime encounter pits the Championship's only unbeaten home record against the solitary side yet to lose on their second-tier travels this season.

    Swansea's solid start under Steve Cooper has been built on the road, given their up-and-down form at The Liberty Stadium, with their most impressive away win coming in a 1-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road in August.

    West Brom, meanwhile, are unbeaten in 15 home games stretching back to last season - if they avoid defeat today, it will be the first time they gone 16 home matches undefeated since 1920, nearly a century ago.

    Something, it seems, has to give - although both teams have had their fair share of draws in their respective unbeaten runs so don't rule out each coming away today with their proud records still intact.

  19. Team news - both sides unchangedpublished at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom v Swansea (12:00 GMT)

    Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin.Image source, Rex Features

    Neither manager has sprung a surprise inclusion for today's match, with both preferring to stick with unchanged teams.

    West Brom striker Charlie Austin may have had an eye on a starting place this week after his late winner on Monday, but Slaven Bilic has again chosen Welsh international Hal Robson-Kanu to lead the line.

    West Brom: Johnstone, Ferguson, Ajayi, Bartley, Gibbs, LIvermore, Sawyers, Phillips, Diangana, Pereira, Robson-Kanu.

    Subs: Bond, Hegazi, Furlong, Barry, Krovinovic, Edwards, Austin.

    Swansea: Woodman, Roberts, Wilmot, Van der Hoorn, Naughton, Fulton, Grimes, Ayew, Byers, Peterson, Surridge.

    Subs: Nordfeldt, Cabango, Bidwell, McKay, Carroll, Kalulu, Dyer.

  20. How they standpublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    West Brom v Swansea (12:00 GMT)

    Championship tableImage source, BBC Sport

    As evidenced by the top half of the Championship table, there's plenty at stake for both sides today.

    With victory, West Bromwich Albion, as mentioned, would reclaim top spot from Leeds United in the ding-dong battle between the top two for second-tier supremacy.

    Swansea, meanwhile, can move into the play-off places with three points. They could conceivably climb as high as fifth but would need to win 6-0 to do so. We'll leave you to decide the chances of that...

    Championship tableImage source, bb