West Brom snatches win against Everton in Premier League

We look bright enough to open them, we hit the post, hit the crossbar. “We have conceded too many goals”, Martinez said.

Everton were dancing out of tune in midfield, with right winger Aaron Lennon riding solo as the only player in the Toffees team performing close to his best level in an impotent display.

“Everton have had a free week”.

Three straight 3-0 wins over Carlisle in the FA Cup and Newcastle and Stoke in the top flight have significantly improved the mood around the blue half of Merseyside as Roberto Martinez’s men have moved into the top half of the table and can now be considered contenders for European football for next season.

“The home form is where we were looking forward to get a fortress, to get good results even when you are not playing well, and it hasn’t been the case”.

“I thought we played really well that day and was absolutely pig sick, so to come here and do the same to them, it’s really nice”.

West Brom struck early, and completely against not only the run of play but also the form-book, with a set-piece goal from their very first attack in the 14th minute.

The win eases the relegation doubts creeping into the minds of fans, and puts the Baggies on 32 points, eight points clear of the drop zone.

There was a real paucity of a cutting edge on Tyneside in a display that Head Coach Tony Pulis described as the worst of his tenure to date, but that assessment was mainly due to the absence of the solid defensive shape for which they are so well known for these days.

Lennon gave James Chester, out of his depth at left-back, a torrid time so it was no surprise the decision to replace him with Gerard Deulofeu 16 minutes from time was booed by a frustrated Goodison Park. They are a good side. I am not worrying about them. Meanwhile, Tony Pulis insists West Brom’s troubles in front of goal are down to failing to take chances, rather than struggling to create any.

37′ – POST: Barkley flicks a cultured boot at the ball on the edge of the West Brom box and holds his head in his hands as his shot cannons back off the inside of the post and his hoofed up-field by Olsson.