West Brom 3-1 Burnley: Isaac Price shines as Baggies seal a win over Clarets

Isaac Price inspired West Bromwich Albion to a 3-1 comeback win against promotion favourites Burnley in the Championship at The Hawthorns.

The Northern Ireland international scored twice in the second half after setting up Harry Whitwell’s equaliser to cancel out Callum Style’s own goal.

Burnley, without star striker Zian Flemming with an injury amid intense speculation of a move, failed to match their lofty billing in a disappointing second-half display.

Albion continued their 100 per cent start to the season, gaining their third straight win in all competitions and second in the league to lie second in the early table behind Millwall on goal difference.

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Match action

In a fast and furious start, there were two goals in the first 18 minutes.

Styles put into his own net in the eighth minute from Jacob Bruun Larsen’s cross.

Albion complained that Hannibal Mejbri fouled Felix Horn Myhre in the build-up some 70 yards away, with several passages of play unfolding before the goal.

Styles had to make contact to prevent Oliver Sonne getting the chance but the ball hit his left heel and it flew into the net.

Whitwell equalised on 18 when he slotted home low to Max Weiss’s left from 12 yards for the 20-year-old’s first Albion League goal.

Burnley appeared wrongfooted by Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s flick-on from Price’s cross, before Bashir Humphreys failed to clear.

But it was Burnley who went closest to scoring again when Bruun Larsen sidefooted against the foot of the post from Marcus Edwards’s searching cross.

Second half

It was a different story after the break. Inspired by Price, Albion produced a dominant second-half performance, with the perfect start.

Price put them ahead for the first time, in the 46th minute, curling the ball beyond Weiss, who had strayed five yards off his line, into the far corner.

The goal came from a loose ball when Jimmy-Jay Morgan tried to help back Styles’s cross and Hannibal challenged.

George Campbell tried to make it 3-1 but his flying downward header from Price’s corner was caught by Weiss.

Burnley made a triple change in the 57th minute with the arrival of Ugo Raghouber, Zeki Amdouni, and Dastan Satpayev.

Amdouni tried to test O’Leary with a rising, curling effort from 20 yards but it flew straight at the Albion keeper.

Instead it was Albion who struck next to effectively seal it, after Humphreys upended Whitwell for a clear penalty.

Price made no mistake from the spot, firing low to Weiss’s right with the keeper going the wrong way.

Shocked

After the game, West Brom head coach James Morrison insisted Aune Heggebo is no cheat.

The Norwegian striker missed the game – the first of a two-match ban – after his retrospective Football Association punishment for ‘deception of a match official’ against Norwich City when his goal went in off his hand. Albion have appealed against the ban.

“We were really frustrated and shocked. Bo was disappointed so we had to back him and we wanted to appeal,” said Morrison.

“He was deemed to have cheated the referee which he didn’t. Yes the ball hit his hand but with the pace of the cross and the keeper touching it, it’s very hard to get out of the way.

“It’s (the appeal) a testament to his personality and who he is. I think we all know he’s not that person.”

On the game, he added: “I felt it was a top performance. I enjoyed it at times for the intensity with the lads willing to run for each other.

“We did the basics really well – we won tackles, and when we lost the ball, we ran back and when the opportunities were given to us, we took advantage.

“I felt like Burnley couldn’t handle our intensity really, and I could smell that at half-time, so the message was to up the intensity.”

“We enjoy competing against the so-called bigger teams and we competed really well today.

“We don’t want to get carried away – we have to keep our feet on the ground, keep working hard and satay humble.”

Back to basics

Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen said: “I think we didn’t have the energy, desire and hunger of the home team.

“You also have to give credit to West Brom. You can always say we played a bad game but they had the structure, a lot of good energy, hunger and desire.

“We had problems and no solutions. I didn’t expect this – it was an eye-opener for everyone, myself included.

“We didn’t play as a team – more like individuals.

“We have to go back to basics like last week (2-2 draw against West Ham United) – we played at slow motion.”

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