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Attendance: 38,103
Everton logo
Premier League
Feb 13, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
West Brom logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-1)
Rondon (14')

Live Commentary: Everton 0-1 West Bromwich Albion - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of West Bromwich Albion's 1-0 triumph away at Everton, their first win in the Premier League since January 2.
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West Bromwich Albion have moved eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone after a 1-0 victory away at Everton.

The only goal of the game came in the 14th minute, when Salomon Rondon was perfectly placed to head over the line after Jonas Olsson had flicked the ball towards the far post.

Everton hit the woodwork through Ross Barkley and Tom Cleverley, but they did not test goalkeeper Ben Foster on a regular basis and can have no complaints after slipping up at Goodison Park.

Read below to see how the action unfolded on Merseyside.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Everton and West Bromwich Albion.

During the opening weeks of 2016, Roberto Martinez was coming under pressure due to Everton's inconsistency in the Premier League and West Brom head coach Tony Pulis was receiving praise for recording seven points from three fixtures, but how times have changed. After three successive victories, Martinez is back in favour with the Toffees faithful and Pulis is coming under increasing scrutiny as his team fail to impress in the final third.

The respective form of the two sides has resulted in significant changes in the Premier League table. Everton, who at one stage were languishing in 13th position, now sit in seventh place and within just four points of sixth-place West Ham. As for West Brom, their barren spell in front of goal has seen the club lose ground on their mid-table rivals, resulting in the Baggies now looking over their shoulder as they fall closer to the drop zone. Just six points separate the West Midlands outfit and 18th-place Norwich City.

Another of the teams at the bottom of the table are in action as we speak. Sunderland are currently drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at the Stadium of Light. You can follow the remainder of that contest by clicking here.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the two starting lineups.

EVERTON XI: Joel; Oviedo, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Coleman; Barry, McCarthy; Cleverley, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku

EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Howard, Baines, Osman, Pienaar, Mirallas, Deulofeu, Kone

WEST BROMWICH ALBION XI: Foster; Olsson, Chester, Yacob, Evans, McClean, Berahino, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon, Rondon

WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Myhill; Gardner; Anichebe, Brunt, Pocognoli, Pritchard, Sandro

Unsurprisingly, Roberto Martinez has named an unchanged lineup after witnessing his side thrash Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium last weekend. The bench looks strong too, but there is a notable absentee. Oumar Niasse must wait for his Everton debut after Martinez revealed that his January signing is still adapting to life on Merseyside.

The big news coming out of the West Brom dressing room is the return of Saido Berahino, who makes his first Premier League start since October. The attacker has featured from the opening whistle in the FA Cup, but he has been given the opportunity to try to improve his side's fortunes in front of goal. Salomon Rondon also starts as the likes of Craig Gardner, Sandro and Victor Anichebe all drop to the bench.

If you want to find all of today's team news in one place, I would advise that you head over to our 'Saturday football' coverage. From 3pm, you will be able to keep track of all of the latest scores from the Premier League, as well as some of the significant games taking place in the Championship.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 163rd time that the two teams have met in a competitive fixture. The Toffees hold a 67-58 lead, but it is their dominance over the last four years that may prove more important ahead of this afternoon's contest. Everton have won six of the last 10 games, with the Baggies failing to beat their hosts since September 2012 - a run stretching six matches. Everton are also unbeaten in five matches at Goodison Park. The only positive spin I can add for supporters of West Brom is that they have drawn with Everton on their last two visits to Merseyside.

GOALFLASH! Sunderland have taken the lead against Manchester United through Lamina Kone! Head over to our live commentary by clicking here - it could be quite a finale!

Here is a photo of the Everton players arriving at Goodison Park. Lukaku is dressed like a man who is full of confidence after scoring 20 goals this season.



RESULT! Sunderland have defeated Manchester United! What a result for Sam Allardyce's men, who move above Norwich City and into 18th position. Read our on-the-whistle match report here.

Another setback for United has left the door ajar for Everton to close the gap on Louis van Gaal's side to three points. Who would have thought that a month ago? The result could place a bit more pressure on Everton, though. While they are favourites to beat West Brom, they now have more to play for. Champions League football looks out of the equation but fifth position is definitely a possibility if they can maintain their momentum with victory this afternoon.

The result will also see the tension rise in the West Brom setup. Not only have Sunderland moved to within six points, Bournemouth and Swansea City both have home matches this afternoon and will move above the Baggies should they record beat Stoke City and Southampton respectively and West Brom slip up at Goodison Park.

PREDICTION! This surely has to be an Everton win, doesn't it...? On paper, West Brom have the firepower to trouble the Everton backline but neither Berahino or Rondon have cut it this season. Like Newcastle did last week, we are expecting a fast start to overwhelm the Baggies and the home side to run out comfortable victors. Everton to win 2-0.

The two teams have made their way out in front of a Goodison Park crowd who look like they need a fast free-flowing game to warm them up on this chilly afternoon.

Everton get us underway.

Everton boss possession for the opening 60 seconds before they lose the ball and it ends up with Ben Foster, who fails to control it and it nearly creeps in the corner! Not the assured start he would have been looking for...

The Toffees are already camped inside the West Brom half and the writing looks on the wall already! Coleman and Lennon look threatening down the right flank but they are unable to find a way through.

West Brom continuing to spend most of the early stages without the ball but they are preventing their hosts from doing anything of note in the final third. They may need to contemplate switching Chester from left-back, though. He is struggling to deal with Coleman and Lennon.

Everton put together a terrific move that ends with Oviedo drilling a ball across the six-yard box. Foster dives to his left, however, to prevent Lukaku from poking home at the near post.

Despite that half-chance, Everton have not built on their rapid start and West Brom have settled well. We are yet to see much of Berahino or Rondon though.

A change of pace from Lennon draws a foul out of Chester and Everton win a free kick around 35 yards from goal. Oviedo is standing over the ball but his delivery comes to nothing, with the ball drifting out at the far post. Disappointing.

GOAL! Everton 0-1 West Bromwich Albion (Olsson)

West Brom lead at Goodison Park! They have carried no attacking threat whatsoever but after a winning a corner, the ball is flicked on by Jonas Olsson at the near post and his lopping header finds the far corner. Rondon made absolutely sure of the goal, but the ball had already crossed the line.

We definitely have a game on our hands now. I felt that Everton would ease through this encounter but West Brom look up for this now. The home side have barely touched the ball since the goal.

The Baggies look a big threat at set pieces. Another ball is floated into the box - this time from a central area - and Dawson out-jumps McCarthy without directing his header on target.

Frustration is beginning to grow inside Goodison Park. For all of their possession, Everton are yet to get a shot on goal. Evans and Olsson are doing a fine job to nullify the threat offered by Lukaku.

Better from Everton, who managed to release Lukaku down the right-hand side. The Belgian cuts back onto his left foot before crossing into the box, but Coleman's glancing header goes a couple of yards wide of the far post.

The referee is already having a word with Ben Foster about the amount of time he is taking at goal kicks. I'm not sure if that is desperate from West Brom's perspective or whether Everton are panicking after falling behind.

Everton are slowly beginning to build a head of steam, with Lennon at the forefront of the majority of their attacks. He still can't create a chance for his side, however, and when the ball falls to Jagielka around 40 yards out, a chorus of groans greet his effort which went nearer the corner flag than the bottom corner.

CHANCE! After a Barkley shot is deflected just wide of the target, a corner is swung in for Funes Mori, but his header is superbly cleared off the line.

SAVE! Everton are finally beginning to test Foster in the Baggies goal. This time, it's Lennon who comes close, with his deflected effort seemingly looping over the goalkeeper before he gets back to tip the ball over the crossbar.

WOODWORK! So unlucky! Barkley produces a bit of magic on the edge of the box, moving the ball out of his feet before curling it towards the far corner. Foster is beaten but the ball rebounds off the inside of the post.

WOODWORK! How are Everton still behind? An inswinging cross from Cleverley is over-hit but it floats over Foster and hits the angle of post and bar. West Brom need the break.

It appears that Rondon has been awarded the goal. It didn't look that way to us but the Venezuelan has been given the nod over Olsson. I'm sure Tony Pulis won't care!

There will be three minutes of added-on time. Not really sure where that has come from.

Lennon is skinning Chester at every given opportunity and he finds Barry with a floated cross at the back post. The midfielder's header is going towards goal but Chester gets back to clear the danger.

HALF TIME: Everton 0-1 West Bromwich Albion

The half-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and West Brom hold on in order to take a slender lead into the break. Everton improved as the half progressed but Martinez will be demanding an improvement when he delivers his team talk.

The two teams are back out. It doesn't look like either manager have tinkered with their lineups. West Brom get the game restarted.

Everton have started where they left off at the end of the first half but their first move of the second half is ruined by an ambitious strike by Coleman, which hits Lukaku and goes behind for a goal kick.

Yacob usually likes a foul but he is unlucky to concede one on Barkley, who definitely made the most of any contact. Everton do nothing with the free kick though, and McCarthy's shot is blocked and subsequently cleared.

BOOKING! The referee has decided to make his point about time-wasting by booking Darren Fletcher. It's extremely harsh on the midfielder. Moments later, James McClean is also cautioned for a foul after the free kick broke down.

SHOT! Either Coleman has improved on his left foot in recent months or West Brom are doing an effective job on pushing him onto his weaker foot. Nevertheless, the shot is poor and straight at Foster.

SHOT! It's McCarthy's turn to get a shot on target, but again, it is straight at Foster. Everton could have done with that chance falling to Barkley.

SUBSTITUTION! McClean has looked a liability since picking up a yellow card and he has been replaced by Chris Brunt. Sensible move.

SUBSTITUTION! Martinez has also acted by making his first alteration, introducing Kone in place of Cleverley.

SHOT! So, so close from Barry! The ball fell invitingly to the veteran on the edge of the area but his 20-yard strike cleared the crossbar by inches. That looked destined for the roof of the net.

CHANCE! West Brom have been on the back foot since half time but they very nearly double their lead. Yacob released Rondon into acres of space, with the striker holding the ball up before playing in Brunt. The Northern Irishman took the shot on first-time but his low strike just missed the far post.

BOOKING! West Brom are looking increasingly threatening on the counter-attack and Barry is forced to take things into his own hands to stop a break which was being headed by Berahino.

Everton are continuing to carve out half-chances but they are yet to test Foster in this half. They need a change, and you would expect that the introductions of Deulofeu and Mirallas aren't too far away.

SUBSTITUTION! On comes former Toffees striker Anichebe, who replaces Rondon in attack. Rondon has had a decent game today.

BOOKING! Foster has been booked for time-wasting by the referee. It was probably deserved on this occasion. Deulofeu is on for Lennon.

The Spaniard's first involvement sees him win a corner for his team. The set piece is only cleared to Barkley on the edge of the area, but his left-foot volley goes wide of the post. Foster had it cleared anyway.

Barry has been turning up in attacking positions all afternoon but he still can't get on the scoresheet, with Evans doing excellently to get in the way of his goal-bound effort.

SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change here. Osman has replaced McCarthy. Mirallas cannot be too impressed. This game has been crying out for his introduction.

BOOKING! Another booking for West Brom, who have Brunt cautioned for a cynical foul on Deulofeu.

SHOT! Barkley plays a neat one-two with Lukaku, who has barely featured all afternoon but the England midfielder's shot flies over the crossbar. Time is running out for Everton.

There will be five minutes of added-on time.

Everton are continuing to huff and puff in the final third but an equaliser looks unlikely here. West Brom have been superb.

FULL TIME: Everton 0-1 West Bromwich Albion

The full-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and West Brom have secured an invaluable three points thanks to Rondon's early goal. What a missed opportunity for Everton though, after Manchester United lost and West Ham United dropped points at Norwich City.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can stick around for all of the results and reaction from around the grounds. Goodbye for now.

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