Rondon hat-trick downs Swans

A second-half hat-trick from Salomon Rondon saw West Brom return to winning ways as they beat Swansea 3-1 at the Hawthorns on Wednesday.

• West Brom 3 Swansea City 1
• Fabianski denies Rondon before HT
• Rondon scores three times after break
• Routledge grabs consolation for Swans
• Baggies move up to seventh with win

Match Summary

Tony Pulis' side narrowly lost 1-0 to table-topping Chelsea at the weekend and they bounced back with Rondon's first-ever three-goal haul for the club to move up to seventh in the table.

The Venezuelan striker scored with three headers in the space of 13 minutes after the break to secure all three points, although Wayne Routledge pulled one back 12 minutes from time for the visitors, who remain in the relegation zone.

Full Report

The first half failed to offer up much excitement, however, as both teams struggled to get going in the West Midlands.

Matt Phillips did threaten for Albion in the 16th minute when he fired wide of the right post from inside the area, but a long spell went by without any goalmouth action.

Rondon almost lit up the dull affair nine minutes before the break when he was sent through on goal by Nacer Chadli, but Lukasz Fabianski denied him the opener from inside the box.

Chris Brunt nearly put past his own keeper three minutes later at the other end as he cut out Jefferson Montero's cross but the first half ended goalless.

However, the match came to life after the break as Rondon broke the deadlock five minutes in the second half, powering home a header from Phillips' free-kick.

The Venezuela international pounced again 11 minutes later as he steered Brunt's cross past Fabianski from a few yards out, before completing his hat-trick on 63 minutes with a looping header over the keeper.

Routledge would grab a consolation goal for Bob Bradley's men on 78 minutes, with the winger scoring on the rebound after Ben Foster had saved Borja Baston's initial shot.

Foster prevented an embarrassing finish to the game as he pulled off a sharp one-handed save to deny Gareth McAuley from netting an own-goal in stoppage time.

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