Baggies snatch the night from the Riversiders’ half‑time party

West Brom turned a 2‑1 deficit into a five‑goal thriller that will be replayed in the dressing‑room for weeks. The Baggies, sitting 12th before kickoff, showed the kind of swagger you’d expect from a side that knows how to win games, while Blackburn, 14th and still nursing a “we‑could‑have‑won‑that‑one” hangover, were left to count their missed chances.

Half‑time was a Blackburn showcase: a slick 20‑minute spell produced two quick strikes from Sam Gallagher (12′) and Lewis Travis (28′), leaving the Baggies staring at the exit door. The Albion faithful were already chanting “we’ll be back” when the whistle blew, and they were right to believe it.

The second half belonged to Andy Cook, who turned a wandering foot‑ball into a clinical finish at the 55′ mark, sparking the comeback. The equaliser came from a well‑timed header by Kyle Bartley (68′), a reminder that the Baggies still have a sturdy aerial threat. Blackburn’s response was a desperate long‑ball that fell to Jacob Murphy, who tucked it home in the 77′, only for the Baggies to snatch the winner from a corner, with Cook again on the end of a cross at 86′. The final whistle confirmed a 3‑2 win that will feel like a title‑clinch for the Baggies’ morale.

Cook’s two‑goal haul earned him an 8.5 – the highest rating on the pitch. Bartley’s defensive work and crucial goal merited a solid 7.5, while the midfield engine, Matheus Júnior, impressed with a 7.0 for his work‑rate and a key assist. For Blackburn, Gallagher’s early strike was the only bright spot, netting a 7.0; the rest of the Rovers struggled to find a rhythm, with the best rating going to Travis at 6.5.

The three points catapult West Brom up to 10th, just two places shy of the playoff spots, and inject fresh optimism into a campaign that has been a series of “almosts”. Blackburn, meanwhile, slip to 15th, edging closer to the relegation dog‑fight and facing a tough run‑in to salvage the season.

Player Ratings

Andy Cook (WBA) – 8.5
Kyle Bartley (WBA) – 7.5
Matheus Júnior (WBA) – 7.0
Sam Gallagher (BLA) – 7.0
Lewis Travis (BLA) – 6.5