Everton edge closer to the danger zone

Everton 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

The Evertonians celebrated once on a cold, bleak night at Goodison Park and that was when asked by Sylvester Stallone to provide a crowd scene for his next boxing film during half-time. Revolt was otherwise in the air.

West Bromwich Albion were typically obstinate under Tony Pulis and Roberto Martinez's team were predictably short of solutions. The Everton manager's decision to withdraw Muhamed Besic, the team's liveliest spark, prompted widespread boos while patience snapped with Ross Barkley for overplaying it.

Worse still for Martinez, Kevin Mirallas missed a first half penalty having taken the ball from regular taker Leighton Baines and the player failed to reappear for the second half. It is now one win in 13 matches for Everton, one in their last 10 league outings. Martinez and his team are edging ever closer to danger.

Pulis was seeking his third League win in four seasons at Goodison Park, each with a different club, and employed similar tactics to last season’s 3-2 win with Crystal Palace.

Tactics

The new Albion manager sought to nullify Everton’s threat from the full-back positions with a five-man midfield containing Chris Brunt on the right and Saido Berahino on the left while flooding forward on the counter-attack. Everton’s reliance on shots from distance in a first half they dominated reflected another Pulis job well done. Ben Foster only had long-range efforts to contend with before the home side were awarded a penalty shortly before the interval.

Romelu Lukaku was isolated as the focal point of Everton’s attack as Ross Barkley, Steven Naismith and Mirallas failed to provide close support but, with Goodison growing restless, Martinez’s men were gifted a glorious chance when Joleon Lescott handled inside his own area. The threat appeared to have disappeared when Lukaku chested Seamus Coleman’s cross at the feet of the former Everton defender but the ball bounced awkwardly on to his outstretched arm and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot. Baines stepped forward but Mirallas took the ball, ignored instructions from Lukaku and Naismith to let the left-back take it and made matters worse by dragging his spot-kick wide of the post.

Albion had chances but Andre Wisdom just failed to connect with James Morrison’s inviting ball into the box and Craig Gardner was offside when forcing Joel Robles into his first save of the night.

Everton increased the number of crosses into the visitors’ area after the interval, to the obvious benefit of Lukaku, but chances remained at a premium. Besic went close from distance and Lukaku fired over but the boos that also greeted the final whistle spoke volumes for Everton’s predicament.

Guardian Service