Cherries cruise past West Brom in the FA Cup

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Dango Ouattara celebrates his goal. Photo Credit: Getty Images

AFC Bournemouth cruised through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, beating West Bromwich Albion 5-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

A Dango Ouattara brace, along with goals from Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo and Daniel Jebbison ensured that there was no cup upset on the south coast.

West Brom had taken the lead after just 14 minutes, when Caleb Taylor headed home from close range, as the Cherries made a slow start.

However, Kluivert levelled up the tie with a smart finish at the back post, before two goals from makeshift striker Ouattara gave Andoni Iraola’s side a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Semenyo was introduced at the break, and the substitute wasted no time getting involved in the action, crashing a powerful strike past Joe Wildsmith in the West Brom goal just two minutes into the second half.

Daniel Jebbison wrapped the tie up in injury time, breaking through and seeing his strike deflect off Wildsmith and loop into the net.

The Cherries will find out their fourth round opponents on Sunday afternoon, with the ties taking place over the weekend of the 8th and 9th February.

Andoni Iraola made six changes to the side that beat Everton 1-0, handing full debuts to youngster Ben Winterburn and new signing Julio Soler, as well as bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Max Aarons, Tyler Adams and David Brooks.

With the injuries to both Evanilson and Enes Unal during the week, Iraola opted to start Ouattara up front for the Cherries, a position the Burkina Faso international has only played a handful of times.

It was West Brom who took the lead just over ten minutes into the contest, centre back Taylor nodding home the rebound, after Grady Diangana saw his header crash off the bar.

The early goal seemed to spark Bournemouth into life, and Max Aarons blazed over from a tight angle, before Kluivert curled a 25 yard effort just past Wildsmith’s left hand post.

Midway through the first half the Cherries found themselves back level, Brooks whipped in a devilish cross which just evaded the onrushing Ouattara, but Kluivert was on hand to smash into the roof of the net.

The Bournemouth pressure continued after the leveller, Brooks found space on the right-hand side and his curling shot looked destined for the far corner, but Wildsmith got down well to tip it round the post.

It wasn’t long before the Cherries took the lead, Kluivert slipping a beautiful reverse pass through to Ouattara, who’s left footed effort found it’s way underneath Wildsmith and into the back of the net.

Just before the break Bournemouth doubled their lead, Brooks bursting through the middle and sliding in Ouattara, who duly converted for his second of the afternoon.

Semenyo replaced Aarons at half time, and it took just two minutes for the winger to get himself on the scoresheet, smashing home from a tight angle to put the Cherries 4-1 up.

Ouattara almost had his hat-trick midway through the second half, his close-range effort blocked on the line, after great work from Brooks to cut the ball back.

The game slowly started to peter out, but Bournemouth should’ve had a fifth when Ouattara broke through on goal and tried to square it to substitute Daniel Jebbison, but the pass was just behind the striker.

Jebbison did get his goal eventually however, going clean through on goal in stoppage time and seeing his effort deflect off Wildsmith and over the line to give the Cherries a 5-1 win.

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