Ideye and Berahino star for Baggies

11 February 2015 10:47

Brown Ideye and Saido Berahino eased West Brom's relegation worries as the Baggies cruised to a 2-0 win over Swansea.

Revitalised Ideye - the Baggies' £10million record signing - was on the verge of joining Qatari side Al Gharafa on deadline day for just five million Euros but has now doubled his tally for the season in his last two games.

He netted his fourth goal of the campaign against Swansea before Berahino bagged his 15th to lift the Baggies up to 14th and four points clear of the Barclays Premier League drop zone.

Bafetimbi Gomis spurned the Swans' best chance in a spiky first half but they rarely threatened in a dour second period.

Ideye returned, with Berahino, after netting the equaliser as the Baggies rescued a point in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Burnley.

James Morrison replaced Chris Baird while Swansea brought in Jefferson Montero for Modou Barrow, out with a foot problem.

After the wretched first half display on Sunday, which saw them go 2-0 down at Turf Moor, Albion came out of the blocks firing.

Lukasz Fabianski's smart save from Craig Dawson's glancing header produced a goalmouth scramble after 12 minutes which saw Swansea hack away Ideye's follow up.

Callum McManaman arrowed a shot wide as the Baggies pressed again in their best 45 minutes since head coach Tony Pulis took charge in January.

Swansea, despite some typical neat interplay, failed to conjure a chance until the 26th minutes when Gomis slashed a shot well wide.

Albion and Berahino continued to threaten though, with the lively striker forcing the visitors' defence into last-ditch challenges.

But six minutes before the break Gomis fired Swansea's best chance straight at Ben Foster after West Brom's initial threat waned.

McManaman curled well over immediately after the re-start during a subdued start to the second half.

Both sides cancelled each other out, though, until the hosts broke the deadlock on the hour.

McManaman was forced off injured after 57 minutes, to be replaced by Stephane Sessegnon, and the substitute had an instant hand in the Baggies' opener.

He found Berahino who scampered towards the area and slipped in Ideye, who wriggled free of Ashley Williams.

The defender recovered to block Ideye's first effort only for the striker to clinically fire the loose ball into the bottom corner.

And Ideye repaid the favour 14 minutes later when Berahino made it 2-0.

The England Under-21 international received the ball in midfield, swapped passes with his strike partner and rifled into the top corner from 15 yards.

Swansea never recovered and Gomis nodded well wide with four minutes left to sum up their evening.

Source: PA