Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter as West Bromwich Albion entertain Everton at The Hawthorns. Both of these teams are in desperate need of three points this afternoon after failing to register a win so far this season. We should have some team news for you shortly...

EVERTON: Howard; Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman; Barry, McCarthy, Naismith, McGeady; Mirallas, Lukaku

EVERTON SUBS: Robles, Gibson, Besic, Atsu, Garbutt, Osman, Alcaraz

Following on from his side's crazy 6-3 defeat to Chelsea last time out, Everton manager Roberto Martinez has made just the one change to his starting XI this afternoon as John Stones comes in to the team in place of Sylvain Distin. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has been passed fit for the Toffees after some concern over whether he would be able to feature today.

WEST BROM: Foster; Wisdom, Pocognoli, Olsson, Dawson; Dorrans, Gardner, Morrison, Brunt; Berahino, Ideye

WEST BROM SUBS: Daniels, McAuley, Gamboa, Baird, Yacob, Blanco, Samaras

West Brom boss Alan Irvine has also made one change this afternoon, with Sebastien Pocognoli replacing Jason Davidson in defence for the Baggies. Summer signing Giorgios Samaras has to settle for a place on the bench. One name that remains absent from the West Brom team sheet is that of Joleon Lescott. The defender has been overlooked today, even though he recently claimed that he was ready to return to action.

As mentioned previously, both of these teams will be looking to pick up a win this afternoon. Everton currently sit one place above West Brom, who are in the relegation zone, on goal difference. The two sides have taken two points from their opening three games of the season.

#WBAEVE - Everton has conceded a #BPL high 10 goals through 3 games this season. They let in 10 total in their first 11 games last season.

— STATS Football (@STATS_Football) September 13, 2014

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "It is easy to see we have been a little bit slack in our defensive duties and we have been punished too easily and conceded too many easy goals. It has been one of those situations where everything that could have gone wrong in our box has gone wrong.

"There may have been a lack of defensive intensity and that is something we need to correct but I do see a team that has improved from last season, even though the results are not as good as they should have been."

West Brom boss, and former Everton assistant coach, Alan Irvine: "I've seen what a good team they are. I know how good they are in terms of their passing and movement, I know about the individuals and the threats that they carry. Knowing them and stopping them are different things.

"I've been getting loads of text messages from people saying that a draw would be a great result and these are Evertonians. It would be great to get a win but not because it is Everton but because we need to get winning soon."

HEAD TO HEAD: It's Everton who have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams, winning 62 matches compared to West Brom's 54. There have also been 35 draws.

The last six matches that West Brom and Everton have played have generally gone the way of the Toffees. Everton have won three of those contests, while the Baggies have come out on top just the once. However, last season saw the sides draw both games.

With kickoff around 25 minutes away, why not take a look at our video preview of this afternoon's match?

45 - Everton have scored a 45th minute goal in all three of their Premier League games this season. Timing. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 12, 2014

UPDATE: Today's early kickoff in the Premier League has just finished at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal and Manchester City have played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Arsenal came from behind to lead with 15 minutes remaining, but a late Martin Demichelis header salvaged a draw for the champions. You can read our full-time report here.

CORRECTION: West Brom have in fact made two changes for this afternoon's match instead of the one that was reported earlier. James Morrison is also given the nod by Alan Irvine, replacing Youssouf Mulumbu.

To recap how these teams have fared so far this season, West Brom started the campaign with a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland before a goalless draw away to Southampton. The Baggies' last match was a chastening 3-0 defeat at high-flying Swansea City. Meanwhile, Everton opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw at Leicester before squandering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal. Their last outing was that barmy 6-3 defeat at home to Chelsea before the international break.

A win for either of these teams could move them up to as high as eighth place in the Premier League table today. You can take a look at the current standings here. Just under 10 minutes to go until this one gets underway at The Hawthorns.

The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel as we approach kickoff. For those who are interested, today's referee is Anthony Taylor. The 36-year-old has dished out eight yellow cards so far this season without sending anyone off.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Everton to get us underway. Here we go!

What a start for Everton as Romelu Lukaku puts them in front with just two minutes played! Olsson fails to clear Baines's cross, gifting Lukaku the ball on the edge of the box. The striker composes himself before unleashing a curled effort past the grasp of Foster and into the net. The Belgian enjoyed some good times here at The Hawthorns a couple of seasons ago, and he shows the West Brom fans plenty of respect with a muted celebration.

Credit to West Brom, they've responded well after going behind so early. They're putting plenty of pressure on their opponents high up the pitch. Wisdom tries his luck with a ferocious drive from 20 yards, but Jagielka is there to block the shot.

Everton are now asserting a bit more control on this match following that response from the home side. The Toffees are trying to take some of the sting out of the Baggies by knocking the ball around defence and midfield. One thing that we've seen already this afternoon from the visitors is their ability to break with pace. You get the feeling that aspect of their game could bring them some joy as this match progresses.

CHANCE! Close to an equaliser for West Brom as Berahino finds some space in the box before getting a shot away, but his effort is deflected over. The resulting corner causes some confusion inside the Everton penalty area, though they eventually do enough to clear the danger. Berahino scored twice for England's Under-21s in midweek, so you would expect his tail to be up today.

That Berahino chance aside, West Brom haven't been particularly convincing up front so far. They've show some promising glimpses when they get on the ball, but that killer pass hasn't been there. Plenty of time for that to change, though. That early setback hasn't rocked the Baggies too much.

West Brom are currently enjoying their best spell of the match. They're starting to get in behind the Everton defence, as demonstrated by Morrison's pass to Wisdom. However, the defender's cross is cut out by Jagielka. That was neatly done by the Baggies.

Yet again Everton have just taken some of the momentum away from West Brom by slowing the game down. The Toffees are knocking the ball about confidently in midfield, making their opponents chase for possession. It's calculated football from the visitors, but it's served them well so far.

West Brom win a free kick around 30 yards from goal that Gardner steps up to take, but the midfielder's effort goes way over the crossbar. That was greedy from the former Aston Villa and Sunderland man.

The hosts win another free kick on the edge of the box following a foul by Stones, but Gardner fails to find the target again. This time his shot cannons off the wall and out of play, with the resulting corner coming to nothing. The midfielder also goes into the book for protesting to the referee that the Everton wall was not 10 yards back. The magic foam says that it was.

This match has got a bit scrappy in the last few minutes. Both teams are struggling to hold onto the ball. That could play into Everton's hands considering the pace with which they break. A second goal for the visitors would signal a long way back for West Brom.

CHANCE! West Brom come close to making it 1-1 with a thunderous strike from Brunt. The ball falls to the Irishman on a tight angle, but his powerful drive almost catches Howard out at his near post. As it is, the ball ends up hitting the side-netting.

West Brom work themselves an opening again as Berahino shows good technique before seeing his shot deflected wide. Brunt's corner goes into the heart of the Everton box, only for the referee to blow for an infringement involving Olsson. There's a little bit of needle in this match at the moment, with both teams mixing it up.

Both manager are down on the touchline, giving their players encouragement as we head into the final 10 minutes of the half. Roberto Martinez is sure to be the happier of the two right now, though West Brom have shown that they are capable of getting themselves back into this match.

CHANCE! What a goal that would have been for Mirallas and Everton! The Belgian picks the ball up about 25 yards from goal before smashing a drive narrowly over the crossbar. That would have taken Foster's hands off had he got anywhere near it.

There's plenty of agitation among the home fans at The Hawthorns. They're not impressed by their side's lack of intent at the moment. Their frustration is demonstrated when Foster ha not options available to him as he looks to launch a West Brom attack.

Dawson and Naismith get involved in a spot of handbags after the players get their legs tangled together. There was a suggestion that the Everton midfielder kicked out at his opponent there, but referee Anthony Taylor decides to take no further action. The Scot had the look of a worried man before realising that he was not going to be punished.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half...

Boos ring out around The Hawthorns as West Brom go in 0-1 down at the break. The game started with a bang as Romelu Lukaku gave the visitors the lead after just two minutes, though it has been fairly even since then. Everton have had their chances to double their lead, while West Brom have shown some promise at the other end of the pitch.

It's worth saying that Lukaku's goal was an absolute peach. The Belgian was gifted the ball on the edge of the box by Olsson, but it was all about Lukaku after that as he took one touch before curling the ball expertly past Foster.

1 - Romelu Lukaku has scored his first Premier League goal for a club that owns him; his previous 32 had all been out on loan. Sweet. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 13, 2014

Everton boss Roberto Martinez will be well aware that a second goal will probably be enough to wrap up the points for his side this afternoon, but West Brom had two or three chances during that opening 45 minutes that will make sure that he doesn't let his players take their foot off the gas. Meanwhile, Alan Irvine is sure to be telling his players to show some more composure in the final third. So far the Baggies have not been too level-headed in attack, though they've plenty of time to turn things around.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be West Brom to kick off the second half. No changes from either manager at the break.

It's been a positive start to the second period for Everton. The visitors are continuing to pass the ball about with plenty of confidence, making West Brom do all of the running.

MISS! How has Naismith not scored?! Lukaku works some space on the edge of the box before seeing his low drive pushed away by Foster. Naismith is there to get the rebound, but the Scot somehow blazes the ball over the bar from about six yards out. What a miss.

YELLOW CARD! The second caution of the afternoon goes the way of Everton midfielder James McCarthy following a late challenge on Gardner. No complaints there from the visitors.

Everton are knocking on the door here as they look to score that all-important second goal. West Brom are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as the away side piles on the pressure. One attack sees Baines receive the ball out on the left, only for Foster to gather his cross.

Nearly an hour played at The Hawthorns and there's little sign of West Brom getting back into this match. The groans of discontent continue to emanate from around the stands as the hosts struggle to find a way through the Everton defence. It's hard to see where an equaliser will come from.

Everton are seeing the majority of the ball right now, though they don't look in any rush to go at the West Brom defence. The passing is crisp and neat, which must please Roberto Martinez, but there's a lack of penetration from the away side.

Everton double their lead thanks to Mirallas, but that goal is all about a dreadful mistake from Foster. Mirallas's tame drive from 20 yards looks to be comfortable enough for the Baggies goalkeeper, only for the ball to squirm under him and into the net. That could well have cost his side this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION: Everton make their first change of the match as Osman replaces Lukaku, who gets a warm round of applause from all four corners of The Hawthorns.

SUBSTITUTIONS: West Brom make a couple of changes now as summer signings Blanco and Samaras come on for Brunt and Ideye. Alan Irvine is clearly going for broke here as we enter the final 20 minutes of the match.

CHANCE! Everton come close to grabbing a third as McGeady takes aim from 25 yards, but the Irishman's strike flashes narrowly wide of the post. That looked to have Foster beaten. The visitors are in total control now, dictating play with their passing game.

SUBSTITUTION: West Brom make their final change as Gamboa enters the action in place of Pocognoli. The Baggies have 15 minutes to salvage something from this match.

Roberto Martinez will be delighted with what he's seeing out on the pitch right now. Everton are running West Brom ragged thanks to some controlled passing and moving. Osman comes close to making it 3-0 with a deflected effort from the edge of the area, though Foster does just about enough to palm it away.

YELLOW CARD! Everton midfielder Naismith is the latest name to go into the book for a trip on an opposition player.

To be fair, the West Brom substitutes seem to have made something of an impact since coming on. The Baggies are still struggling to cause Everton any real problems, but they're showing a bit more fight as we head towards the conclusion of this game. That said, some of the home fans have seen enough and are leaving already.

SUBSTITUTION: A second change for Everton sees Besic take the place of McGeady, who has been fairly subdued today. Despite scoring two goals for Ireland in midweek, the winger has found it difficult to impact this game.

SAVE! Foster goes some way to redeeming himself by pulling off a fantastic save from Osman. Everton dink the ball around the West Brom box brilliantly before Osman tries his luck from inside the box, but Foster is there to get a strong hand to the ball.

There will be three minutes of added time...

YELLOW CARD! Besic, who is know for being feisty in midfield, goes into the book for a needless foul on Dorrans.

DOUBLE SAVE! Howard is called into action with just a minute remaining, keeping out Berahino and Samaras in quick succession. The USA international showed great reflexes there to keep West Brom out.

The full-time whistle goes and Everton have their first win of the season thanks to a 2-0 win over West Brom. Romelu Lukaku gave the visitors the lead with just two minutes on the clock before a mistake from Ben Foster gifted Kevin Mirallas with the visitors' second goal on 66 minutes. West Brom showed few signs of getting anything out of this match, extending their winless run to four games.

That's all from our live text coverage of today's game, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both teams right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!