AFC Bournemouth finally gave their season a kick-start with a battling 1-0 victory against a struggling West Brom side on Saturday afternoon.
The Cherries edged the game and deservedly stole all three points from their visitors when Callum Wilson found the net with the only goal of the game eleven minutes from the end of the game.
The result leaves Baggies manager Tony Pulis heavily under pressure. His side have not won since the opening day of the season, were knocked out of the English Football League Cup by Northampton Town in abject fashion and fans have grown frustrated at the negative style of football.
Wilshere has to settle for cameo role
The Cherries' marquee signing, Jack Wilshere, was named as a substitute by Howe which caused a stir among both Bournemouth fans and the Arsenal fans who are keeping an eye on his development at Vitality Stadium.
The on-loan Gunners midfielder moved south to rejuvenate his career but found himself in exactly the same role that he left the Emirates in. However, Howe seems keen to manage his time on th pitch. Wilshere appeared for just half an hour on his competitive debut for his new temporary Club.
Starting instead of Wilshere was a very familiar eleven. Howe has become renowned for his lack of rotation, although he has plenty of reason to trust a team that has played well so far this season despite not picking up results. However, Wilson's neat flick deep into the second half could be the start of a very successful period for the Cherries.
Pressure mounting on Pulis
It could just be the beginning of the end for the Baggies boss. His side were poor at Vitality Stadium although their best chance came when Matt Phillips thundered a free-kick against the crossbar. That, however, really was a good as it came for Pulis' once again under-performing side.
West Brom defended well for the majority of the game but unlike his Stoke City and Crystal Palace sides, it just always feels like they will concede the longer the opposition put pressure on them for.
Poor first half ends goalless
Any prominent gamblers among the viewers certainly wouldn't have been far wrong when predicting a low-scoring game. Neither side have been particularly successful in the final third so far this season although both back fours are relatively solid.
Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe was the only real spark in the first half and had his best game since signing from Liverpool for a hefty £15 million in the summer. The winger cut inside on numerous occasions and had a number of good efforts on goal.
The best chance of the half came right at the end and it was a rather embarrassing moment for the match-winner, Wilson, as he missed an open goal following good work from Junior Stanislas, albeit shooting from a tight angle. The striker should still have found the back of the net.
Wilson gives Cherries first win of the season
The game needed some magic and a man with the ability to break down a tight, well-drilled defence. Step forward, Wilshere. The England international finally got his call on 62 minutes, replacing Ibe, and showed plenty of promise in the short time he spent on the pitch.
However it was Wilson who stole the limelight from Wilshere. on 79 minutes the ball found the feet of Charlie Daniels, whose cross was flicked in superbly by the striker - the wonderful bit of improvisation that the gam desperately craved.
The final ten minutes continued in similar vein to the previous 78 minutes. Both sets of fans' emotions were contrasting; the home end bounced in jubilation while the away end hammered Pulis with expletives for his negative style of football.