Defeat at Bournemouth increases Albion's relegation concerns

Goals from the two Wilsons, Harry and Callum, either side of a Pascal Gross own goal, sent them to a 3-1 defeat in a Premier League six-pointer at what has been an unhappy hunting ground through the divisions.

Aaron Ramsdale was beaten by an Aaron Mooy blast to reduce arrears.

But four excellent saves from Ramsdale made him a worthy man-of-the-match and underpinned a huge result for the Cherries.

Eddie Howe’s men are the ones who added a bit of Vitality to their quest to stay up.

Albion’s two changes came in attacking areas as Pascal Gross and Alireza Jahanbakhsh came in for Aaron Connolly and Saturday’s goalscorer Leandro Trossard.

There was no downplaying the importance of this contest, especially on the home side.

Bournemouth fans were asked to take careful notice of an inspirational message on the screens just ahead of kick-off.

Their side – like Albion, showing two changes – initially seemed keen to make it as intense and high-tempo as they could from the off.

But Albion settled into their stride and started to knock the ball about.

Jahanbakhsh, who broke his Premier League duck against the Cherries recently, saw a shot deflect over with their first effort of note.

But it was pretty quiet around the Vitality Stadium and the hosts quickly settled into a mindset of holding position in their own half and inviting Albion to pass a way through.

Mooy almost did that when he threaded a ball into Neal Maupay inside the box after Albion won the ball back high up.

But Nathan Ake was across sharply to nick the ball away from the Frenchman.

More creativity from Mooy should have brought Albion a goal which would only have increased the discontent already audible among home fans.

The Aussie, who was finding some handy pockets of space, played a nicely disguised reverse pass to get Maupay in behind the defence.

From close range, the striker saw his first effort well saved by the right hand of Ramsdale and the follow-up blocked by Ake.

They were decent chances and Bournemouth responded to their escape in style.

From Dominic Solanke’s cutback, Diego Rico hit the side-netting at the near post when many home fans thought the ball was in.

Harry Wilson saw two goalbound shots repelled by defenders in quick succession.

The Cherries were suddenly up for it and Harry Wilson’s third effort put them ahead after Solanke picked up Lewis Dunk’s headed clearance off Philip Billing’s long ball and found his colleague in five yards of space in the box.

Albion’s unease was encapsulated by the site of Ryan dropping a routine cross when Adam Webster might have been getting in his way.

Ryan stayed on his line next time around, from a corner delivered from the Bournemouth right into the goalmouth, and could only watch as Gross, marking Callum Wilson, skewed the ball into his own net.

Albion’s disenchanted fans, overlooking the penalty area their team would aim to attack after the interval, tried to offer vocal support as the half kicked off.

They almost had a moment of fortune to cheer when Jahanbakhsh’s shot deflected off Ake and looped inches wide.

But, once there had been no immediate second-half riposte, Potter went for a triple change which saw Connolly join Maupay in attack, Trossard go wide right and Solly March take over at left-back.

That the subs went on at 2-0, not 3-0, was down to a brilliant right-handed save by Ryan from a Billing header as they waited on the touchline.

The hope for Albion, who surrendered a 2-0 lead on this January midweek date at Fulham last year, was that one goal would set home nerves on edge.

It might have come when Ramsdale bravely blocked at point-blank range from Dunk as a corner forced by March dropped at the skipper’s feet at the far post.

The popular home goalkeeper followed that with a pair of very similar tip overs from curling efforts unleashed by Maupay then Gross from around the edge of the box.

Albion’s reshuffle had Alzate in a central role and Dale Stephens at right-back.

Their attempts to work their way back into the contest were undermined by a third home goal on a counter attack.

There was a touch of fortune about the way Solanke’s final pass flicked off Webster’s heel into Callum Wilson’s path.

But the finish was unerring as he rounded Ryan to score.

Mooy offered Albion hope as he latched on to a defensive header and fired home a thunderous finish via the inside of the post.

Trossard almost made it a very anxious finale for the hosts when he curled narrowly wide of the far post.

But Albion’s – and man-of-the-match Ramsdale’s - night was summed up in added time when Maupay tried to force home in a melee from a corner and the ball ended up in the keeper’s hands.