Birmingham: Peter Odemwingie scored twice to give West Bromwich Albion a 2-0 win over last-place Southampton in the Premier League on Monday, lifting his team to fifth place while increasing the pressure on visiting manager Nigel Adkins. Southampton suffered their fifth straight away loss and have now conceded 28 goals in 10 league matches. West Brom, meanwhile, bounced back from tough injury-time losses against Manchester City and Newcastle, thanks to a goal in each half from Odemwingie.
The Nigeria international broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with a left-footed shot that took a deflection off Maya Yoshida and flew past Saints keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Odemwingie doubled Albion's lead with a clinical finish in the 60th, meeting a cross from the left wing to head home from close range.
"Fantastic credit to bounce back after two difficult weeks," West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster said. "We were unlucky against [Manchester] City and we conceded in the last minute last week against Newcastle, so it was great to bounce back and we thoroughly deserved the win."
Adkins' side remain rooted to the foot of the table. Albion fans taunted the manager with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning."
"We need a win that's without question," Adkins said. "I've got a hunger and a desire. I love being at Southampton. The supporters have been fantastic since I joined the club. I'm positive and it is my responsibility to lead from the front and I have every desire to go and do that."
The hosts began positively and a fine pass from Odemwingie picked out the run of Shane Long into the Saints box. But the Baggies' leading scorer opted to cut the ball back across the area rather than shoot. Rickie Lambert had the first attempt on goal and his low drive from a narrow angle contained plenty of power but was held onto by Foster.
Odemwingie's first goal was contentious, as replays suggested he had handled the ball in the build-up.
Southampton started the second half on the offensive and a shot on the turn from Lambert struck the bar with Foster well beaten. Instead, Odemwingie doubled the lead after left-back Liam Ridgewell's long pass found Long who held the ball up, cut inside and floated over an inviting centre for the forward to head home.
The Baggies could have increased their lead with skipper Chris Brunt volleying just wide at close range from a cross by fellow substitute Romelu Lukaku.
Comments
0 comment