Match ends, Bournemouth 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
BournemouthAFC Bournemouth1West BromWest Bromwich Albion1
Substitute Matt Ritchie struck late to earn Bournemouth a share of the points after West Brom took an early lead at the Vitality Stadium.
In a match between two sides safe from relegation, a mistake by Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc was punished when Salomon Rondon headed home.
Boruc saved Craig Gardner's penalty before half-time, and Ritchie drew the hosts level with a close-range header.
Craig Dawson hit the post late on as the Baggies pressed for a winner.
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The midfielder had earlier seen his penalty pushed onto the crossbar by Boruc, who dived to his right again to brilliantly push away the follow-up effort.
The draw meant Bournemouth are without a win in four games, while West Brom's last victory came against Manchester United eight games ago.
Boruc's moment to forget...
Bournemouth looked in control and untroubled until a glaring mistake from their goalkeeper gave West Brom the chance to strike.
Boruc's low clearance went straight to Jonathan Leko, who dribbled towards the box before finding Evans on the left.
The former Manchester United man's pinpoint cross was emphatically headed home by Rondon, and Boruc could only kick the ball angrily back towards halfway for the restart.
...but he soon makes amends
Boruc will prefer to look back at the moments that kept his side in the game.
West Brom were awarded a penalty three minutes before half-time when Tommy Elphick tangled with Gareth McAuley.
Boruc tipped Gardner's spot-kick onto the bar with an excellent save, then got back to his feet quickly enough to push the follow-up away.
It was a moment that proved vital, giving the Cherries the chance to come back late in the game.
Seasons ending on a low
Bournemouth dominated possession and played the kind of attractive football they have for much of their debut Premier League season.
But it was a more basic approach that drew them level, with Ritchie latching on to a throw-in that slid off the head of Claudio Yacob inside West Brom's area.
It was a moment of sloppy defending not usually associated with sides managed by Tony Pulis, and helped deny what would have been only their second away win in the league in 2016.
Man of the match
The stats you need to know
- West Brom have failed to convert any of their past three penalties in the Premier League.
- Salomon Rondon's goal was West Brom's 400th in the Premier League.
- Jonny Evans provided his first assist in the Premier League since February 2013, while at Manchester United (v Fulham).
- Matt Ritchie has been involved in more PL goals than any other Bournemouth player this season (10, four goals and six assists).
What's next?
West Brom host Liverpool, who just three days later will play in the Europa League final, on 15 May, the last day of the Premier League season.
Also at 15:00 BST that day, Bournemouth travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in a match that could have an impact on the race for Champions League places.
What the managers said
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We didn't deserve to lose today, we had a lot of possession but they are not the type of team to go behind to."
On Artur Boruc's save: "It made a different atmosphere in the ground. In the second half we were much improved and I thought we deserved the equaliser.
"I'm slightly disappointed with elements of the performance, but overall you have to reflect on the season and it's been a great effort by the players."
West Brom manager Tony Pulis: "We're disappointed, the players have worked so hard. Bournemouth play the way they play, but they didn't really cause us any problems.
"Harry Arter should have been booked for pushing Jonas Olsson over, then there's a blatant handball that again he doesn't get booked for and the challenge on Darren Fletcher is a straight red.
"We've had five penalties this year, and missed four so we have to blame ourselves on that."
Line-ups
Bournemouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Boruc
- 2Francis
- 5ElphickBooked at 42mins
- 3S Cook
- 11Daniels
- 19StanislasSubstituted forRitchieat 74'minutes
- 6Surman
- 8ArterBooked at 70mins
- 10GradelSubstituted forKingat 61'minutes
- 20AfobeSubstituted forWilsonat 60'minutes
- 28Grabban
Substitutes
- 4Gosling
- 12Iturbe
- 13Wilson
- 17King
- 23Federici
- 30Ritchie
- 32O'Kane
West Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Foster
- 25Dawson
- 23McAuley
- 3Olsson
- 6Evans
- 5YacobBooked at 62mins
- 24Fletcher
- 45LekoSubstituted forGuimaraes Cordeiroat 86'minutes
- 8GardnerSubstituted forBerahinoat 74'minutes
- 14McClean
- 33Rondón
Substitutes
- 4Chester
- 13Myhill
- 17Lambert
- 18Berahino
- 30Guimaraes Cordeiro
- 44Roberts
- 47Field
- Referee:
- Mark Clattenburg
- Attendance:
- 11,040
Match Stats
Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamWest Brom
- Possession
- Home69%
- Away31%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Arter (Bournemouth) left footed shot from long range on the left misses to the right. Assisted by Andrew Surman.
Post update
Attempt saved. Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Darren Fletcher.
Post update
Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Saido Berahino.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Sandro replaces Jonathan Leko.
Post update
Offside, Bournemouth. Steve Cook tries a through ball, but Callum Wilson is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Grabban.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joshua King (Bournemouth) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Harry Arter.
Post update
Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion).
Goal!
Goal! Bournemouth 1, West Bromwich Albion 1. Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) header from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Joshua King (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Salomón Rondón.
Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Craig Dawson.
Post update
Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Matt Ritchie replaces Junior Stanislas.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Saido Berahino replaces Craig Gardner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James McClean with a cross.
