Thomas-Asante helps West Brom beat 10-man Norwich

4 months ago 91

Last updated on 15 minutes ago.From the section Championship

Brandon Thomas-Asante celebrates at The Hawthorns with Conor Townsend

Brandon Thomas-Asante's third goal in five games follows his call-up for Ghana's preliminary Africa Cup of Nations squad

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

Borja Sainz's first booking was for his 30th-minute challenge on Grady Diangana

More to follow.

Line-ups

West Brom

Formation 4-2-3-1

24Palmer2Furlong5BartleySubstituted forAjayiat 61'minutes4Kipré3Townsend27MowattSubstituted forChalobahat 86'minutes35Yokuslu7J WallaceSubstituted forSarmientoat 87'minutes19SwiftSubstituted forFellowsat 75'minutes11DianganaSubstituted forMolumbyat 86'minutes21Thomas-Asante

Substitutes

6Ajayi8Molumby14Chalobah15Pieters17Sarmiento20Reach31Fellows33Griffiths36Taylor

Norwich

Formation 4-4-2

28Gunn3StaceySubstituted forHernándezat 81'minutes24Duffy23McLean15McCallumSubstituted forPlachetaat 81'minutes27RoweSubstituted forBatthat 45'minutes26Núñez17Gomes Sara7SainzBooked at 33mins11IdahSubstituted forHwang Ui-joat 61'minutes10BarnesSubstituted forHanleyat 45'minutes

Substitutes

5Hanley8Gibbs12Long16Fassnacht20Placheta21Batth25Hernández31Hwang Ui-jo35Fisher

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.

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