Sport

Ideye rescues a point for West Brom

February 8, 2015 4:59 pm

Nigeria international, Brown Ideye, was West Brom’s unlikely hero as they fought back from two down to draw 2-2 at fellow strugglers Burnley.

Ideye, who is the club’s record signing was rumoured to be close to a deadline day move to Al Gharafa SC of Qatar but the deal fell through, came off the bench at half-time at Turf Moor to head in the equaliser.

Burnley were two up inside 32 minutes through Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings but Chris Brunt pulled one back just before half-time for Albion.

It was a first Barclays Premier League goal of the season for Brunt, who lost the captain’s armband to deadline-day signing from Manchester United Darren Fletcher.

The point was enough for Burnley to climb back out of the relegation zone but with extremely tough fixtures to come, a win would have eased the pressure on them.

It all looked rosy for the hosts when they went two goals up but they had lost two of their previous three games from 2-0 lead and their Achilles heel came back to haunt them.

Burnley have conceded more headed goals than any other team in the league and, with the first half into injury time, Brunt was allowed to head in a corner from five yards.

The ball seemed to come more off his shoulder than head but Clarets goalkeeper Tom Heaton was helpless as it bounced over him and into the net.

In the second half, there was a Burnley appeal for a penalty when Barnes fell under pressure from Craig Dawson but referee Mike Dean waved play-on.

West Brom drew level as Burnley were exposed at a corner yet again with 67 minutes gone.

This time Brunt’s delivery from the right found record signing Ideye all alone in the centre of the box and he headed in his third goal for the Baggies – his second in the league.

Burnley also threatened from a corner nine minutes later but Lescott cleared Jason Shackell’s header off the line.

The final chance of the game went to substitute Berahino but he could not make it count as a combination of Heaton and Ben Mee on the line denied his goal bound effort.