Bristol City fans showed their disapproval of manager Nigel Pearson as West Brom produced one of the comprehensive football scores of the weekend in the Championship. When Phillips snuck up on Zak Vyner to run onto a Conor Townsend through ball and confidently clipped a shot past charging goalkeeper Max O’Leary, the visitors seized the lead in the ninth minute. After 75 minutes, Thomas-Asante, a substitute, extended the lead by coolly chipping O’Leary from outside the box after finding another huge opening in City’s frail defense.
Tommy Conway got in behind the Albion defence and had a fantastic opportunity to put City ahead before Phillips’ early goal, but Alex Palmer blocked his attempt. Albion, however, appeared dangerous right away. This season, City has let up goals at home much too easy, and Phillips’ goal’s simplicity was no exception. After 12 minutes, a right-wing corner nearly gave the home team an equalizer when a defender for Albion misjudged it and the ball clipped the crossbar before being cleared. After 25 minutes, O’Leary made a stop in response to more sloppy City defending at a corner, keeping his team in the game. Townsend was unable to convert the rebound in a frenetic scramble.
Just before the break, Palmer again denied Conway, diving to his left to deflect a thunderous drive wide. In a frantic second half, City was having their best period when Nahki Wells, Conway, and Cameron Pring all had shots blocked. After a Jed Wallace cross, Daryl Dike from Albion missed a volley opportunity at the near post. After 52 minutes, Pearson was forced to make a switch when center-back Andy King suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Rob Atkinson, to the loud applause of the home crowd. After manager Carlos Corberan made two substitutions, Albion appeared to be the more dangerous team. On the 64th minute, Thomas-Asante had a low shot stopped by O’Leary.
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