West Brom go top with victory over Cardiff

West Brom returned to winning ways and went top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 4-2 win against Cardiff.

Slaven Bilic’s promotion chasers led 3-0 until the 75th minute but substitute Danny Ward’s double made things nervy for the home fans until Romaine Sawyers scored the Baggies’ fourth goal in the third minute of added time.

Charlie Austin also scored his first league goal for West Brom after first-half strikes from Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana.

Albion showed the midweek defeat at Leeds was a blip with their second successive 4-2 home win.

Cardiff’s Robert Gladzel had an effort disallowed for offside before Austin scored, then Ward set up a grandstand finish.

The visitors were first to threaten when captain Sean Morrison guided a towering header towards the bottom corner from Junior Hoilett’s free-kick –  but goalkeeper Sam Johnstone tipped it away and centre-back Aden Flint blazed over.

Austin went close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute. He brilliantly got between Morrison and Flint to slide in on a superb cross from Phillips from point-blank range, only for goalkeeper Alex Smithies to block with an outstretched leg.

Sixty seconds later, the Baggies were ahead with a superbly-worked goal. Brazilian playmaker Pereira cut in from the right and exchanged passes with Diangana before curling a delightful left-foot shot beyond Smithies.

Pereira was inches away in the 27th minute. Again Diangana was the architect, and the on-loan Sporting player’s angled shot from 18 yards brushed the side-netting.

Gavin Whyte tested Johnstone with a low drive, the goalkeeper gratefully scooping around the post, before West Brom took control.

Centre-back Semi Ajayi’s glancing header from Phillips’s corner flew wide, then a delightful move involving Phillips, Jake Livermore and Diangana almost produced Austin’s first goal for the club as Smithies saved well.

However, Diangana made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, receiving a short pass from Livermore and taking a touch then letting fly with a low, angled drive from 20 yards.

Cardiff improved in the second half and they forced the first on-target effort when Glatzel’s angled volley was palmed behind by Johnstone.

The Bluebirds thought they had scored on 70 minutes from Glatzel’s fierce header following Marlon Pack’s free-kick – but it was ruled out for offside.

Austin made it 3-0 a minute later, keeping his cool to drive across Smithies after Pereira and substitute Kyle Edwards had linked up to put him through.

Cardiff were not done though and Ward slammed home from 12 yards after Mendez-Laing found him on 75.

Then it was 3-2 when Ward applied the finishing touch after Flint appeared to have glanced home substitute Josh Murphy’s corner 10 minutes later.

However, Sawyers had the last laugh – latching onto a delightful pass from Pereira before calming lifting the ball over Smithies.

FourFourTwo Staff

FourFourTwo was launched in 1994 on the back of a World Cup that England hadn’t even qualified for. It was an act of madness… but it somehow worked out. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the game’s biggest names, insightful analysis... and a bit of a giggle. We unashamedly love this game and we hope that our coverage reflects that.

Latest in
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Latest in News
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report
Jack Grealish
Manchester City report: Jack Grealish poised for European switch, with price revealed