West Brom, Bournemouth kick off English league season with draw

London, Aug 6, 2021 (AFP) - West Brom came from behind twice as they kicked off the English Championship season with a lively 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Friday night.

Both clubs opened their campaigns in the second-tier under new management after falling short of their Premier League aspirations last season.

Frenchman Valerien Ismael replaced Sam Allardyce after West Brom finished 19th in the Premier League and were relegated.

Scott Parker took over at Bournemouth who finished seventh in the Championship and then lost to Brentford in the playoffs.

Bournemouth signed one of the players who ended their season, Emiliano Marcondes, from Brentford, and the Dane gave his new team a 12th-minute lead, driving home a low cross from Jaidon Anthony.

Centre-back Dara O'Shea replied after 33 minutes, meeting Conor Townsend's hanging cross with a powerful downward header.

Another of Bournemouth's Danes, Philip Billing, restored their lead seven minutes into the second half, passing the ball into the corner of the West Brom net after goalie David Button had pawed away a low cross.

Both West Brom goals came from Irishmen.

They levelled for a second time as Callum Robinson finished off a crisp attack by guiding the ball home after 67 minutes.