Albion came back from a goal down and eventually claimed a comfortable win against Bournemouth.
The Seagulls went behind to a Dominic Solanke goal midway through the first half after Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen was caught in possession.
Albion equalised in first-half stoppage time as Billy Gilmour whipped in a cross and Milos Kerkez tried to clear. His header went past Bournemouth keeper Neto.
Albion stormed back right at the start of the second half Mitoma playing a one-two with with fellow substitute Ansu Fati and slotting home.
Bournmouth had chances to equalise but new sensation Albion substitute Carol Baleba stormed through a static Cherries defence which led to Mitoma’s superbly directed headed second.
The visitors set in a similar way to West Ham men behind the ball , strict man for man marking and trying to prevent Albion from playing out from the back.
Albion were missing Pascal Gross and any wide outlet in the first half. Facundo Buonanotte just not quite at the level of some of his team mates.
Once Mitoma was introduced he immediately changed the game probably the quickest scoring substitute in Albion history – quicker than Peter Ward 1976 against Hereford and Leo Balogan 2018 against Crystal Palace.
The Cherries searched for an equaliser – Lewis Dunk cleared one off the line and Verbruggen made amends with a couple of fine saves. The keeper appeared to be getting stick from Albion fans in the north stand for his slow play in the first half – but it was clear he was adhering to De Zerbi’s ‘La pause’ tactics as the manager gesticulated more than usual.
Mitoma’s second was a peach of a header and the game was put to bed.
Albion back to third in the Premier League, will no doubt send a reserve team to lowly Chelsea in Carabao League Cup this Wednesday – before looking to reclaim top spot after the clash at Aston Villa in the Premier League next Saturday lunch time.
Cue Art Garfunkel
(is it a kind of a dream)
