Bristol City striker Sam Bell filled the void left by Antoine Semenyo with a brilliant brace as the Robins soared into the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of West Bromwich Albion.
Bell was handed a starting slot by boss Nigel Pearson following Semenyo’s £10.5-million departure to Bournemouth on Friday and repaid that faith with a goal in each half to inflict a humbling defeat on high-flying Championship rivals.
Alex Scott, valued at £25-million by Ashton Gate’s powers-that-be, grabbed his first goal this season in an emphatic win for the West Country side.
The Baggies paid the price for manager Carlo Corberan’s decision to make five changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Championship pacesetters Burnley.
Bell, the son of former City favourite Mickey Bell, put his side in command of the tie on 12 minutes in splendid style.
The 20-year-old, whose goal accounted for Swansea in the previous round, took advantage of hesitant defending following back-to-back corners to curl a right-footed shot beyond David Button’s dive.
Scott, linked with a move to Wolves, doubled the lead on 28 minutes, sliding the ball home from close range following Mark Sykes’ inviting low cross.
While the visitors were all over the place at the back, they were not much better in attack.
Okay Yokuslu headed Adam Reach’s corner wide from six yards and Daryl Dike broke clear only to see Max O’Leary kept out his low shot with his right foot.
Bell showed them how it should be done and effectively sealed victory on 48 minutes in glorious fashion.
A burst of pace took him clear as he latched onto George Tanner’s ball, taking a quick touch before elegantly lifting the ball over Button.
Corberan made three substitutions to revive his side but it said all about a dire display as the travelling supporters jeered as a rare attack foundered when Karlan Grant carelessly allowed a pass to run out of play.
Their frustration deepened as O’Leary twice expertly denied substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante while Scott and Bell continued to run rings around Corberan’s sorry side at the other end.