Saido Berahino went some way to redeeming himself at
West Brom as his first-half goal sealed 1-0 win over Premier
League rivals Aston Villa on Saturday.
The England Under-21 international publicly pushed for a
move away from The Hawthorns during the transfer window
and even stating on deadline day via social media that he
would not play for the club again under chairman Jeremy
Peace.
But after holding clear-the-air talks with boss Tony Pulis and
his team-mates earlier in the week, Berahino looked focused
on the task at hand at Villa Park, capping his return to the
Albion side with a goal just before half-time.
The striker, one of three changes from the goalless draw
against Southampton last week, when Berahino was used
off the bench, popped up inside the area to deflect home
James Morrison's powerful drive, rewarding an impressive
first half for the visitors, who were largely untroubled by a
disappointing Villa performance.
Salomon Rondon had two chances well saved midway
through the second period before Micah Richards saw a
headed effort disallowed for an earlier foul on a frustrating
day for Tim Sherwood's side.
The result stretches Villa's winless league run to five games,
with Sherwood now left to pick up his players ahead of
another derby fixture in the form of Birmingham City in the
League Cup on Tuesday.
All eyes were on the returning Berahino, but it was strike
partner Rondon who had the first sight at goal inside two
minutes, getting ahead of former Baggies defender Joleon
Lescott to meet Chris Brunt's whipped cross with a powerful
header and force a smart save from goalkeeper Brad
Guzan.
Jonny Evans headed a Berahino corner just over five
minutes later, but Villa, who made one change from last
Sunday's defeat at Leicester City as Alan Hutton started,
weathered the early storm.
Despite doing well to tighten up the defence, there was
precious little to excite the home crowd at the other end,
with West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill largely untested in
the first half.
Jack Grealish blazed a 25-yard effort over after 24 minutes
and Carles Gil's goal-bound effort was blocked by Claudio
Yacob moments later.
West Brom capitalised, with Darren Fletcher's 20-yard drive
tipped round the post by Guzan before Berahino broke the
deadlock six minutes before the interval.
James McClean's tenacity on the right allowed him to find
Rondon, who touched it on to Morrison before his fierce low
drive was deflected home by the foot of Berahino.
Despite the introduction of Rudy Gestede at half-time, West
Brom continued to look the better side.
A great turn saw Rondon get away from Lescott on the edge
of the area and sting the palms of Guzan with a vicious
strike. He tested Guzan again with a low drive moments
later.
Berahino was replaced by Craig Gardner as the visitors
looked to solidify their defensive efforts, although Villa did
have a ball in the net 20 minutes from time when Richards
headed home, only for referee Martin Atkinson to call play
back following a foul on Grealish.
Rondon had a far-post header gathered by Guzan eight
minutes from time before Gestede nodded over in stoppage
time, but that was as close as either side came to finding
another goal.
West Brom as his first-half goal sealed 1-0 win over Premier
League rivals Aston Villa on Saturday.
The England Under-21 international publicly pushed for a
move away from The Hawthorns during the transfer window
and even stating on deadline day via social media that he
would not play for the club again under chairman Jeremy
Peace.
But after holding clear-the-air talks with boss Tony Pulis and
his team-mates earlier in the week, Berahino looked focused
on the task at hand at Villa Park, capping his return to the
Albion side with a goal just before half-time.
The striker, one of three changes from the goalless draw
against Southampton last week, when Berahino was used
off the bench, popped up inside the area to deflect home
James Morrison's powerful drive, rewarding an impressive
first half for the visitors, who were largely untroubled by a
disappointing Villa performance.
Salomon Rondon had two chances well saved midway
through the second period before Micah Richards saw a
headed effort disallowed for an earlier foul on a frustrating
day for Tim Sherwood's side.
The result stretches Villa's winless league run to five games,
with Sherwood now left to pick up his players ahead of
another derby fixture in the form of Birmingham City in the
League Cup on Tuesday.
All eyes were on the returning Berahino, but it was strike
partner Rondon who had the first sight at goal inside two
minutes, getting ahead of former Baggies defender Joleon
Lescott to meet Chris Brunt's whipped cross with a powerful
header and force a smart save from goalkeeper Brad
Guzan.
Jonny Evans headed a Berahino corner just over five
minutes later, but Villa, who made one change from last
Sunday's defeat at Leicester City as Alan Hutton started,
weathered the early storm.
Despite doing well to tighten up the defence, there was
precious little to excite the home crowd at the other end,
with West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill largely untested in
the first half.
Jack Grealish blazed a 25-yard effort over after 24 minutes
and Carles Gil's goal-bound effort was blocked by Claudio
Yacob moments later.
West Brom capitalised, with Darren Fletcher's 20-yard drive
tipped round the post by Guzan before Berahino broke the
deadlock six minutes before the interval.
James McClean's tenacity on the right allowed him to find
Rondon, who touched it on to Morrison before his fierce low
drive was deflected home by the foot of Berahino.
Despite the introduction of Rudy Gestede at half-time, West
Brom continued to look the better side.
A great turn saw Rondon get away from Lescott on the edge
of the area and sting the palms of Guzan with a vicious
strike. He tested Guzan again with a low drive moments
later.
Berahino was replaced by Craig Gardner as the visitors
looked to solidify their defensive efforts, although Villa did
have a ball in the net 20 minutes from time when Richards
headed home, only for referee Martin Atkinson to call play
back following a foul on Grealish.
Rondon had a far-post header gathered by Guzan eight
minutes from time before Gestede nodded over in stoppage
time, but that was as close as either side came to finding
another goal.
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