Willy Boly becomes the first Premier League player to score, assist and give away a penalty in the same game for more than nearly 10 years… with former Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura the last player to achieve the feat… also against West Brom!
- Willy Boly achieved the feat in the first half before West Brom came back to win
- Semi Ajayi and Matheus Pereira won it for the Baggies after Boly had made it 2-1
- Adlene Guedioura was the last Premier League player to do what Boly has done
- Amazingly, he was playing for Wolves and the opponents were again West Brom
- However, Wolves were the winners on that occasion as they beat their rivals 3-1
As a centre back, Willy Boly’s chief responsibility is keeping goals out at his end rather than helping out in the opponents’ box.
The Ivorian has not scored for Wolves since netting the visitors’ only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Southampton in April 2019 and has not assisted for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side since they drew 2-2 against Everton in September that year.
Nevertheless, Boly had a respectable seven goals and three assists in 113 games since his arrival at Molineux, but no-one could have anticipated his impact against West Brom in the Black Country derby.
Willy Boly’s afternoon started badly after he fouled Callum Robinson to concede a penalty
Fabio Silva points at Boly after the centre back’s brilliant backheel assisted the 18-year-old
It all started unpleasantly for the 29-year-old, catching Callum Robinson to concede a penalty after referee Michael Oliver found that the offence had taken place just inside the box following a VAR review.
Matheus Pereira slotted home, but Boly made amends half an hour later, producing an impudent backheel after a Romain Saiss cross caused havoc in the West Brom box, with Fabio Silva getting on the end of it to finish confidently for just his second Wolves goal.
An incredible first half for Boly was complete five minutes later after a corner from the home side was not cleared by Jake Livermore and Boly made no mistake.
Boly then got on the scoresheet himself – before West Brom mounted a second-half comeback
This meant that Boly became the first Premier League player to score, assist and concede a penalty in the same match since Adlene Guedioura in May 2011, according to Opta.
The Moroccan was playing for Wolves at the time and, incredibly, achieved the feat against the Baggies.
Guedioura chested down from Stephen Hunt’s corner for Steven Fletcher to fire home the opener at Molineux that day, before doubling the hosts’ lead on 28 minutes when Fletcher returned the favour after another corner was hoisted into the box, with Guedioura pouncing from virtually on the goalline.
Matheus Pereira scored the winner after Semi Ajayi had brought the Baggies level at Molineux
Adlene Guedioura was the last Premier League player to achieve the feat… against West Brom
Fletcher made it 3-0 just after the break, before Guedioura conceded a spot kick after a foul on Peter Odemwingie, with the Nigerian beating Wayne Hennessey. However, the game finished 3-1 to Mick McCarthy’s men.
Unlike that match nearly 10 years though, Wolves were unable to hold onto their lead this time, with Semi Ajayi’s header drawing Sam Allardyce’s men level in the second half before Conor Coady fouled Pereira for the Brazilian to net his second penalty of the contest and help West Brom to a vital win as they move to within three points of 17th-placed Brighton.