West Bromwich Albion defeated Swansea City in the Premier League 3-1 with the help of a Salomon Rondon hat-trick.
The Venezuela international netted three time in the space of 13 minutes in the second half to sink the Swans, all of his goals coming from headers.
Swansea pulled one back late on through Wayne Routledge but it proved to be no more than consolation.
Find out how the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League clash between West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City at The Hawthorns. Hold onto your hats because team news is incoming...
WEST BROM XI: Foster; Nyom, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt; Yacob, Fletcher; Chadli, Morrison, Phillips; Rondon
SWANSEA XI: Fabianski; Taylor, Amat, Mawson, Rangel; Fulton, Britton, Montero, Routledge, Sigurdsson; Llorente
First let's take a look at the hosts and congratulations is in order for goalkeeper Ben Foster, who will make his 150th appearance for the Baggies tonight.
© SilverHub
The big news from the West Brom camp is the return of Nacer Chadli to the starting XI. Manager Tony Pulis will no doubt have instructed him to get forward to support lone striker Salomon Rondon at every opportunity, in the continued absence of Saido Berahino.
It's also worth pointing out that the Baggies have named 16-year-old Rekeem Harper among their substitutes. What a moment it will be for him if he gets the opportunity to enter the field of play.
Onto visitors Swansea and head coach Bob Bradley has made just one change from the side that beat Sunderland last time out, with Modou Barrow dropping to the bench to make way for Jefferson Montero. In other news, the Swans' record signing Borja Gonzalez returns to the bench.
We should have a decent game on our hands this evening. West Brom have made a solid start to the season and are in good form - that narrow defeat against Chelsea was their first in five matches. Meanwhile, the Swans have taken six points from their last three games, as many as they took from their previous 12.
However, they have earned just one point from their last six away fixtures and conceded 12 goals in four on their travels under Bradley.
You'd think that would make the Baggies the clear favourites, but they don't have the best record against Swansea. In fact, West Brom have lost six of their previous 10 Premier League games against tonight's opposition and the Swans have only failed to score in one of those.
Swansea could certainly use a win tonight as they head into the match inside the bottom three by just one point. West Brom are firmly in mid-table after a solid start to the season, approaching each game with typical Pulis-inspired organisation. You can see how the table looks ahead of kickoff here.
A win for the Baggies tonight would mark the first time they have pulled off three home victories on the spin since March 2015 and it could move them as high as seventh in the table. The fact we're talking about West Brom pushing towards the top six is testament to the fantastic job Pulis has done there.
KEY MAN: Salomon Rondon brings the goal threat for West Brom tonight. The powerful South American will be looking to get up in Swansea's face and I can see him doing some damage.
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KEY MAN: Gylfi Sigurdsson is Swansea's key man tonight and you should look no further than his recent stats to find out why. He's been involved in eight Premier League goals in as many matches - that's four strikes and four assists, to be exact. Overall this season, he has 14 goals and seven assists to his name.
Pre-match quotes from the two camps coming up...
BRADLEY: "His team has a lot of very tall guys and they utilise that with some direct play, while it also gives them good match-ups at set pieces. They are impressive in terms of team shape and how they go about their business in every game they play. They do a lot of things well, and we will have to do the same if we are going to get a result there."
PULIS: "They've got some quality in their team and we mustn't underestimate them. The big problem is the psychological one. You play Chelsea at the beginning of the week, Manchester United at the end of the week and in the middle is Swansea. Swansea is most probably more important than the other two games and that's how we've got to look at it." (via The Express and Star.)
There's less than 10 minutes to go until kickoff, so it's time for my final score prediction. I'm going with a 2-1 win for West Brom this evening with Rondon on the scoresheet. The Swans look like they've got goals in them right now, but I think Pulis will get his tactics right and his side will edge a hard-fought encounter.
Just five minutes to go until kickoff now. Can Swansea climb out of the bottom three, or will the hosts secure the win they need to continue their push towards the top six? Stay tuned to find out...
KICKOFF! The first half begins as Swansea get us underway. The visitors are kicking from right to left in the first period.
A long pass from Jonas Olsson cannons off Wayne Routledge and goes out for a West Brom throw. The ball eventually finds its way to Nacer Chadli around 25 yards out and he goes for goal, his effort lacking power and bobbling harmlessly wide.
Gylfi Sigurdsson makes a dangerous run but isn't quite on the same wavelength as Angel Rangel, whose long ball strikes his teammate on the back of the leg and deflects away from the danger zone. West Brom clear their lines and look to break at the other end.
West Brom look comfortable in possession for the most part, but Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley don't appear to be on the same page. A mix-up between them almost allowed Swansea through on goal there.
A good run from Chadli allows Nyom to race towards the flank and play a dangerous low ball into the Swansea area, which Rangel does well to intercept and scramble clear.
CHANCE! Swansea win a free kick in a promising position as Llorente draws a foul from Olsson. Sigurdsson goes for goal from around 25 yards out, but his effort goes straight into the arms of Ben Foster.
CHANCE! West Brom have their first shot on target as Morrison hits one on the turn, forcing Fabianski to smother. The midfielder didn't get a lot of power behind that and directed it too close to the big Pole.
Swansea threaten through a series of corners but the move breaks down as the referee blows for a foul on Foster by Llorente, who went into the goalkeeper with his elbows raised.
CHANCE! West Brom come close as Chadli creates space on the right and plays a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, where Phillips is lurking. He gets his left boot to it and misses the target by inches! Wonderful skill by Chadli during the build-up, but the finish was lacking.
It's been a positive start from both sides. Swansea aren't afraid to venture forward and take the game to their opponents, but West Brom have created the better chances. Chadli is looking particularly up for this one.
Half-chance for Swansea as a menacing ball from Montero causes fleeting panic in the area before being cleared by a combination of Foster and Olsson. Bradley will be pleased by his side's attacking intent.
This man has been particularly dangerous on the right this evening. If West Brom manage to draw blood tonight, I expect it will be through that channel.
📷 @NChadli bursts past Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jay Fulton at The Hawthorns #WBASWA pic.twitter.com/tY92mI8KZp — West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 14, 2016
Rondon goes for goal from 25 yards out but it's closer to hitting the corner flag than the back of the net. The big striker spotted Fabianski off his line and had a rush of blood to the head there, I think.
West Brom squander a free kick which Brunt whips into the area from around 30 yards out, but it fails to find the head of McAuley at the far post, bouncing out for a goalkick.
There's a gaffe from Montero as he slips to the ground while attempting a mazy run into the area. West Brom clear their lines as the home supporters unleash ironic cheers.
Rondon plows into Fabianski with the force of a runaway train as the pair scramble to reach a loose ball. The Polish keeper gets there first but is now on the ground receiving treatment after scrambling the ball clear. You often come off second best after a collision with Rondon!
Play has now resumed and Fabianski is good to continue. Swansea attempt to stage an attack but West Brom snuff it out as Brunt steals the ball from the feet of Montero, conceding a throw in the process.
Neither side has played poorly but both will have to up their game to make their mark on this match. Although clear-cut chances have been few and far between, both Swansea and West Brom have been well organised, particularly the visitors.
SAVE! Fantastic save from Fabianski, who does really well to thwart Rondon at close range! Nyom and Chadli combine to release the South American. He bears down on goal, but the Swansea keeper races off his line, makes himself big and makes the block.
LET-OFF! West Brom are fortunate to avoid conceding as Montero's cross deflects off Brunt and almost ends up in his own net. The entire situation came about due to the sheer confusion among the Baggies defence. None of them look like they're on the same page this evening!
GOAL DISALLOWED! West Brom have the ball in the net as Brunt's free kick somehow finds its way over the line, but the goal is rightly ruled out due to an offside against Olsson.
West Brom carve out a good chance moments before half time as Morrison threads a pass though to Rondon and the striker surges into the box. He can't get a shot away and Amat eventually slides in to steal the ball from him 15 yards from goal.
HALF TIME: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Swansea City
The half-time whistle blows, bringing an evenly-matched first half to a close. Swansea looked more composed than their hosts but it was West Brom who created the best chances, both falling to Rondon.
The Venezuelan was denied by Fabianski at point-blank range in the 36th minute and looked clean through on goal on the stroke of half time before Amat picked his pocket. It's been tight, but I think we'll see a goal or two in the second period, so stick around.
KICKOFF! West Brom get the match back underway!
West Brom waste no time piling on pressure as Chadli chases a long ball into the Swansea area. Fabianski is quick off his line once again to beat the Belgian to the punch.
GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Swansea City (Rondon)
The Baggies take the lead from a free kick! Phillips plays an inviting cross into the heart of the box and Rondon meets it with a powerful header that makes the net bulge. Great delivery and a bullet header to match!
West Brom didn't provide Rondon with enough service in the first period, but he reminded us exactly what he's capable of when Phillips fed him the kind of cross he craves. He used his strength well while rising to meet the ball.
How will Swansea respond? That goal has certainly rocked them, but they'll have to regroup quickly if they want to find a way back into this match. Pulis sides are notorious for defending one-goal leads efficiently.
There's a half-chance for the Baggies as Chadli's backheel finds Fletcher, who cuts into the box and sails a cross towards the back post. Phillips rises to meet it, but heads over for a goalkick.
GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Swansea City (Rondon)
West Brom double their advantage and it's another jackhammer of a header from that man Rondon! Brunt plays a measured cross towards the far post and the South American leaps like a salmon to bury it!
GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Swansea City (Rondon)
It's a hat-trick of headers from big Salomon Rondon! Brunt once again provides the delivery with a deft lofted pass from the left wing. West Brom failed to feed Rondon in the first period but the quality of their crossing and the striker's lethal aerial ability have been the difference between the two sides in the second.
It looks like there's no way back for Swansea now but Bradley has made a change nonetheless, throwing on Modou Barrow for Jefferson Montero.
Rondon has been nothing short of top class tonight, looking like the kind of striker who could grace the front line of any team in the world. Pulis obviously urged his players to provide him with more effective service at half time, and they've done just that.
There's a few changes to bring you up to speed on - Chadli makes way for McClean for West Brom while the Swans have replaced Britton Llorente with Cork and Borja. It could well be a case of damage limitation for City with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Here's the scenes after Rondon completed his hat-trick. The big striker looks absolutely delighted!
⚽️ @salorondon23 (50)
⚽️ @salorondon23 (61)
⚽️ @salorondon23 (63)#WBASWA #Gladiator 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/p9KfqKwNOk — West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) December 14, 2016
It's another change for West Brom as Morrison makes way for Gardner.
GOAL! West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Swansea City (Routledge)
Swansea have pulled one back through Routledge, who pounces after there's a goalmouth scramble in the West Brom area. Borja's initial shot is saved well by Foster, but there was no denying Routledge on the rebound - will it be anything more than consolation?
Swansea have remained on the front foot since pulling one back but haven't troubled Foster again. There's less than eight minutes plus stoppage time remaining. Surely Pulis's West Brom won't let this slip?
There's a standing ovation for Rondon as he leaves the park to be be replaced upfront by Hal Robson Kanu. Pulis couldn't have asked for more from his target man tonight.
MISS! Sigurdsson's cross towards the six-yard box is inviting but Borja's volley is well off target. He should have done better there as he was under no pressure from the West Brom defence. Another goal for Swansea would have set up a high-octane finish but West Brom will surely see this out now.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to play.
GREAT SAVE! Foster is on hand to produce a reaction save as a cross cannons off McAuley towards his own goal. A good stop which allows West Brom to rest easier in the dying stages here.
Swansea have played with intensity during the dying embers of this game. Cork goes from goal after latching onto a loose ball in the box and rifles a shot wide, no doubt the final kick of the evening.
FULL TIME: West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Swansea City
The full-time whistle blows and West Brom take maximum points thanks to a hat-trick of headers from Salomon Rondon.
Routledge hit the Swans' solitary reply with 12 minutes remaining but it proved no more than consolation as Bob Bradley's side remain in the bottom three of the Premier League. The Baggies, on the other hand, are up to the dizzying heights of seventh.
And that's all we have time for here but be sure to stick with Sports Mole for all of the fallout from this evening's fixtures. Many thanks for reading. Goodnight!
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
