West Bromwich Albion of England defender, Semi Ajayi got one of several yellow cards picked up by Nigerian players in the English Premier League, but he ended the day with another goal for his team and helped them win 3-2 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, megasportsarena.com reports.
Ajayi got a 36th minute yellow card before he hit his side’s second goal of the encounter, as The Baggies’ coach, Sam Allardyce got his first win since taking over the saddle at The Hawthorns and his side breathed new life into their bid for survival with victory in the Black Country derby.
Matheus Pereira (8) gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot after Willy Boly’s foul on Callum Robinson, but Wolves hit back as two goals in five minutes from Fabio Silva (38) and Boly (43) to send them in at the break with the lead.
The topsy-turvy of the game didn’t stop there as West Brom responded early in the second half through defender Ajayi (52), before Pereira’s second penalty of the afternoon – after Conor Coady brought down Robinson – sealed Allardyce’s first win in charge of Albion.
Three points sees West Brom, who stay 19th, move onto 11 points, three adrift of safety, while, Wolves’ struggles continue, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are without a win in five league games and stay 14th.
Boly clattered into Callum Robinson right on the edge of the area, but the match referee, Michael Oliver adjudged the foul to have taken place inside the box, and following a VAR check, Pereira sent Rui Patricio the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Centre-backs Kyle Bartley and Ajayi combined from a long throw and the latter leveled eight minutes after the restart, lopping a brilliant header over Patricio and into the far corner, as the game turned into an explosive encounter worth all the pre-match hype.
Ajayi’s goal for WBA was their first via a throw-in situation in the EPL since Graham Dorrans versus QPR in April 2012 and, since the start of 2018/19, no defender has scored more headed league goals in England’s top four tiers than the Super Eagles’ youngster, who has nine and is now level with Virgil van Dijk and Aaron Pierre.
West Ham United’s Nigerian-born Italian international defender, Angelo Obinze Ogbonna got an 83rd minute yellow in The Hammers’ 1-0 win at home against Burnley, while Fulham’s Ademola Lookman was also booked in the 88th minute of The Cottagers 1-0 defeat by visiting Chelsea.
Josh Onomah went in for Fulham as a 79th minute replacement for Ivan Cavaliero, while Ola Aina was replaced by Joe Ryan in the 83rd, as Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham went on for Jorginho in the 65th minute, but Fikayo Tomori was not dressed.
Despite Fulham’s in-form stopper, Tosin Adarabioyo getting full duration action and seven points from the game, Mason Mount’s late strike gave Chelsea just a second Premier League win in seven games as they beat 10-man Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage to ease the pressure on boss Frank Lampard.
Both sides had chances in the first half as Mount struck the bar and Cavaleiro fluffed a clear opening for Fulham, but the game’s complexion changed just before half-time when Antonee Robinson was dismissed for a high challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chelsea huffed and puffed in the second half, but were made to wait for the winner as man of the match Mount’s controlled half volley found the net from inside the box after Alphonse Areola’s weak punch clear from a cross (78).
Sub Timo Werner should have wrapped the win up late on, turning wide when through on goal, but the victory means Chelsea move up to seventh, seven points off leaders Manchester United, but having played a game more, while Fulham stay 18th, four points from safety.
