Southampton vs West Brom match report: Hal Robson-Kanu stunner completes Baggies turnaround

Southampton 1 West Bromwich Albion 2: The Wales international repaid Tony Pulis for handing him his first Premier League start in over three years by scoring the game's decisive goal

Robson-Kanu powered a left-footed shot into the top corner (Getty)

Hal Robson-Kanu is unlikely to ever match the goal that helped Wales beat Belgium in last summer’s Euro 2016 quarter-final. The forward’s first goal since his memorable ‘Cruyff turn’ effort, though, confirmed his eye for the spectacular remains intact.

Forced to wait patiently for his first league start after joining West Bromwich Albion as a free agent on transfer deadline day, Robson-Kanu made the most of his chance when it finally came, producing an outstanding left-foot finish that completed his side’s comeback after falling behind to Shane Long’s opening goal.

Long’s 41st minute header appeared to put Southampton in control but Claude Puel’s side had no reply after Matt Phillips quickly equalised and Robson-Kanu put the visitors’ ahead at the start of the second half. Southampton’s frustration was complete when Virgil Van Dijk was sent two minutes from time after collecting a second yellow card for pulling Salomon Rondon to the ground, having committed a similar offence on Phillips in the first half.

Long's first-half header put his former club one goal down (Getty)

Tony Pulis, the West Brom manager, admitted his decision to select Robson-Kanu ahead of Rondon, but insisted the Wales international deserved his chance. “Sometimes as manager it drops for you sometimes it doesn’t,” said Pulis. “You leave yourself open for criticism. If Hal hadn’t scored and we lost the game, people would’ve said why we not played Soloman. Toss a coin and it lands well for you, which I’m pleased about.

“It was a great goal and he played well, his attitude has been fantastic. He’s been absolutely fantastic. His attitude around the club, willingness to join in even though he’s only been almost a bit-part player because of Salomon has been fanatic. I can’t speak highly enough of the player. He is that type of players — he’s so whole-hearted. Watch him train and work, he gives everything all the time so we had no problem playing him. The difficult thing was leaving Salomon out.”

Puel was looking for a response after the heavy midweek defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and the initial signs were he would get it. Southampton dominated possession throughout the first half without properly testing Ben Foster, the West Brom goalkeeper before Long met Dusan Tadic’s corner with a near post header.

Phillips converted Brunt's first-time pass past Foster (Getty)

Having shown precious little ambition to that point, West Brom responded quickly, equalising within two minutes through Phillips’s equally impressive finish. Claudio Yacob started the move inside the centre circle, moving the ball forward to Chris Brunt whose first time pass to Phillips allowed the winger to cut inside Maya Yoshida and beat Fraser Forster with a curling, right-foot finish.

It was West Brom’s first effort on target, but the incisive move ensured Southampton’s earlier positive work was undone, and there was worse to come for Puel’s side four minutes into the second period. Again Southampton were exposed by a quick, direct move, with Phillips this time assuming the role of provider and releasing Robson-Kanu with a pass that allowed the forward to move clear on goal after running between Van Dijk and Yoshida. Van Dijk attempted to shepherd the Albion forward wide, but Robson-Kanu took his shot early, beating Forster from the edge of the penalty area.

“I’m disappointed for all the squad because both the last two games have been the same scenario, we start well and score but then take a goal and end with a red card,” said Puel. “It’s unlucky. But we are the only team that has to play three games in six days and that's not normal. We need to respond now."

Teams

Southampton (4-3-3): Forster; Martina (Ward-Prowse 74), Yoshida, Van Dijk, McQueen; Hojbjerg (Rodriguez 52), Romeu, Davis; Boufal, Long, Tadic (Sims 74).

Subs not used: Taylor, Fonte, Reed, Bertrand.

West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom (McClean 46); Yacob, Fletcher; Phillips, Brunt, Chadli (Morrison 52); Robson-Kanu (Rondon 71).

Subs not used: Myhill, Gardner , Galloway, Leko.

Referee: Mike Jones

Attendance: 30,975