Not even a new form of VAR imbroglio could prevent West Brom from swaggering to a victory that keeps alive their slim hopes of springing free of relegation. The hosts were denied an early breakthrough in circumstances that infuriated Sam Allardyce, who suggested VAR was making a “laughing stock” of the
Premier League, but his side brushed off that disappointment and won thanks to goals by Matheus Pereira, Matt Phillips and Callum Robinson. Sam Johnstone saved a penalty from James Ward-Prowse in stoppage time to preserve an emphatic scoreline.
West Brom have won back-to-back matches for the first time this season but are still eight points below 17th-placed Newcastle. “Unfortunately we need to rely on other teams losing,” said Allardyce. “All we can do is keep winning and keep our fingers crossed.”