Bournemouth 2-2 West Brom: Championship season begins with a thriller
Bournemouth 2-2 West Brom: Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson earn point for persistent Baggies after Emiliano Marcondes and Philip Billing give the Cherries the lead twice in thrilling Championship season opener
- Bournemouth drew the Championship season opener against visitors West Brom
- Emiliano Marcondes slotted the Cherries in front just 12 minutes into his debut
- Dara O’Shea headed the equaliser; Philip Billing restored Bournemouth’s lead
- Callum Robinson slid in a second-half equaliser in a battle of two new managers
As the sun dipped behind a cloud, the Bournemouth players gathered in a final huddle. Around them, English football gulped in a huge lungful of air.
It ripped off its mask, it closed the social distance. And then the shouting began once more. After 18 months, normality has never looked and sounded so good.
There have been recent glimpses of better days but tonight marked the return of the Championship in all its cacophonous, cramped, chaotic glory.
Bournemouth host West Brom in a pulsating 2-2 stalemate to launch the Championship season
Emiliano Marcondes celebrates after requiring just 12 minutes of his debut to score the opener
And thankfully, the decibels barely dipped as Bournemouth and West Brom served up a Friday night firecracker.
Twice Bournemouth led – through Emiliano Marcondes and then Philip Billing. Twice West Brom hauled themselves level through Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson.
At the end of it all, for one night at least, they share top spot. That’s where these two sides will hope to be at the end of another slog towards the Premier League.
Both have new managers and both Scott Parker and Valerien Ismael will take plenty of heart from these early signs.
Marcondes netted the final goal of the 2020/21 Championship season, which sealed Brentford’s promotion to the Promised Land.
The hope here is that the midfielder’s opening strike of this campaign will represent a first step on Bournemouth’s own march back towards the top flight.
After play-off heartbreak last year, the home fans sensed a good omen. ‘We are top of the league,’ rang around on 12 minutes after Marcondes – signed on a free this summer – swept home Jaidon Anthony’s low cross.
Anthony was one of three Bournemouth academy graduates making their full debut last night and the goal gave Parker’s side a vital foothold. Alas, their lead barely lasted past the half hour.
Ismael has challenged his relegated Baggies to be ‘unpleasant’ to face. He wants to see the same suffocating energy that served Barnsley so well last season. There were flashes of that high-octane, high-pressing style but it was from a set piece that the visitors put themselves back on terms.
After his throw-in was half-cleared, Conor Townsend curled a cross on to the head of O’Shea, who made no mistake from six yards.
Philip Billing scores Bournemouth’s second, only for West Brom to hit back again to make it 2-2
Callum Robinson celebrates drawing West Brom level again, pouncing with 67 minutes played
Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers was beaten again a few minutes later, after another set play caused chaos. This time, though, Robinson’s poked finish was ruled out for a foul elsewhere.
If Bournemouth appeared to be clinging on by the end of the first half, they began the second by wresting back control. Parker’s side were in front once more after Jordan Zemura – another academy face – saw his cross pushed out to Billing, who coolly slotted into the empty net.
But West Brom would not lie down – even without Matheus Pereira, who yesterday joined Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Robinson fired just wide; Cedric Kipre had a header ruled out. Then, 23 minutes from time, Robinson finished a fine goal.
There could have been more. David Button made smart saves from David Brooks and Dominic Solanke. At the other end Karlan Grant curled agonisingly wide. We could get used to this, you know.
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker issues guidance to his side in his first league game in charge
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