Shane Long scored a wonderful solo goal as West Bromwich Albion played out a 2-2 draw against West Midlands rivals Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on Monday.
The hosts went ahead through a piece of individual brilliance from Long with just two minutes and 40 seconds on the clock.
Chris Brunt hoisted the ball forward from inside the Albion half towards the Villa box and Long showed exceptional touch to kill the pass.
The Irish striker then got away from Nathan Baker with another touch before slotting past Brad Guzan into the bottom corner with a left foot finish from 18 yards.
Long gave West Brom a 2-0 lead seven minutes later, but Karim El Ahmadi and Ashley Westwood scored in the second-half to rescue a point for the visitors.
"When Brunty gets the ball in the middle of the park you know that if you make a run he'll more than likely find you," Long told the club's website.
"I like running in behind defenders and sometimes the ball comes over your shoulder like that.
"Nine times out of 10 that touch won't come off like that for me.
"I surprised myself but it's nice to get it down, get it settled, and finish it left footed.
"You get into those positions so you need to make sure you can capitalise on them."
Baggies manager Steve Clarke added: "I thought his first finish especially was good.
"You just think of that skill of bringing the ball down over your shoulder - which is really difficult - and shifting it onto his weaker left foot, which by the way he hit it you wouldn't know was his weaker foot."
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| West Brom striker Shane Long shoots to score his first goal against Aston Villa Photo: Getty Images |
The hosts went ahead through a piece of individual brilliance from Long with just two minutes and 40 seconds on the clock.
Chris Brunt hoisted the ball forward from inside the Albion half towards the Villa box and Long showed exceptional touch to kill the pass.
The Irish striker then got away from Nathan Baker with another touch before slotting past Brad Guzan into the bottom corner with a left foot finish from 18 yards.
Long gave West Brom a 2-0 lead seven minutes later, but Karim El Ahmadi and Ashley Westwood scored in the second-half to rescue a point for the visitors.
"When Brunty gets the ball in the middle of the park you know that if you make a run he'll more than likely find you," Long told the club's website.
"I like running in behind defenders and sometimes the ball comes over your shoulder like that.
"Nine times out of 10 that touch won't come off like that for me.
"I surprised myself but it's nice to get it down, get it settled, and finish it left footed.
"You get into those positions so you need to make sure you can capitalise on them."
Baggies manager Steve Clarke added: "I thought his first finish especially was good.
"You just think of that skill of bringing the ball down over your shoulder - which is really difficult - and shifting it onto his weaker left foot, which by the way he hit it you wouldn't know was his weaker foot."
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