Thomas-Asante helps West Brom beat 10-man Norwich

2 years ago 39

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Brandon Thomas-Asante celebrates at The Hawthorns with Conor Townsend

West Bromwich Albion top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante hit the only goal of the game as Carlos Corberan's promotion-chasing Baggies beat Norwich to win for only the second time in six games.

The Baggies were aided by playing with an extra man for more than an hour after a mad three minutes, in which Norwich midfielder Borja Sainz was first yellow-carded, then sent off.

First, on the half hour, he was booked for a challenge on Grady Diangana and then, after having an effort denied by Albion keeper Alex Palmer, on 33 minutes, he waved an imaginary yellow card of his own towards referee James Bell.

But Bell responded by waving the real thing back at him - which meant a second yellow, Sainz red-carded and Norwich having to play out two-thirds of the game a man short.

Despite being overwhelmingly the better side throughout, it took until five minutes into the second half for the Baggies to break through.

Another tempting right-wing cross from home skipper Jed Wallace was met by Diangana, who headed down for Thomas-Asante - and the potential Africa Cup of Nations striker prodded home his seventh Championship goal of the season to end the Canaries' five-game unbeaten run.

Borja Sainz's first booking was for his challenge on Grady Diangana

Albion had won four of their previous seven league games against Norwich, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting in April.

The Canaries had also lost in their four most recent Boxing Day fixtures, having had not won since a 2-0 victory in the Midlands, at Birmingham City, in 2017.

But, in a game the Baggies were already dominating, the Canaries' task of upsetting the form book was further loaded against them by the loss of Sainz.

It remained one-way traffic as the busy Wallace created openings for Diangana, a chip from John Swift and Darnell Furlong - efforts which all went wide.

But home keeper Palmer had to remain alert and, late on, he made a vital one-handed save from Norwich substitute Hwang Ui-jo to preserve all three points for Albion.

Who's next?

Albion are at home again on Friday (20:15 GMT) when they host Leeds United in a meeting of fifth against fourth.

Norwich are again on their travels (19:45), also on 29 December, when they go to Millwall.

Line-ups

West Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

24Palmer
2Furlong
5BartleySubstituted forAjayiat 61'minutes
4Kipré
3Townsend
27MowattSubstituted forChalobahat 86'minutes
35Yokuslu
7J WallaceSubstituted forSarmientoat 87'minutes
19SwiftSubstituted forFellowsat 75'minutes
11DianganaSubstituted forMolumbyat 86'minutes
21Thomas-Asante

Substitutes

6Ajayi
8Molumby
14Chalobah
15Pieters
17Sarmiento
20Reach
31Fellows
33Griffiths
36Taylor

Norwich

Formation 4-4-2

28Gunn
3StaceySubstituted forHernándezat 81'minutes
24Duffy
23McLean
15McCallumSubstituted forPlachetaat 81'minutes
27RoweSubstituted forBatthat 45'minutes
26Núñez
17Gomes Sara
7SainzBooked at 33mins
11IdahSubstituted forHwang Ui-joat 61'minutes
10BarnesSubstituted forHanleyat 45'minutes

Substitutes

5Hanley
8Gibbs
12Long
16Fassnacht
20Placheta
21Batth
25Hernández
31Hwang Ui-jo
35Fisher

Referee:James Bell

Attendance:25,086

Live Text

Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Norwich City 0.
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Norwich City 0.
Offside, Norwich City. Hwang Ui-Jo is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Semi Ajayi.
Nathaniel Chalobah (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kenny McLean (Norwich City).
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Jeremy Sarmiento replaces Jed Wallace.
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Jayson Molumby replaces Grady Diangana.
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Nathaniel Chalobah replaces Alex Mowatt.
Cédric Kipré (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Substitution, Norwich City. Przemyslaw Placheta replaces Sam McCallum.
Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Jack Stacey.
Foul by Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion).
Jack Stacey (Norwich City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Alex Palmer.
Attempt saved. Hwang Ui-Jo (Norwich City) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gabriel Sara with a cross.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.