Everton claimed their third victory in a week thanks to another 2-0 success as they made light work of West Brom at Goodison Park.
McAuley own goal and Anichebe seal points for Blues
Everton claimed their third victory in a week to move above neighbours Liverpool thanks to another 2-0 success as they made light work of West Brom at Goodison Park.
The hosts broke the deadlock after an unfortunate own goal by Gareth McAuley after 18 minutes.
Leon Osman did his best to claim his fourth goal of the season, but his left-foot shot took a heavy deflection off the defender's legs before wrong-footing goalkeeper Ben Foster.
And the Toffees wrapped up all three points after 68 minutes thanks to substitute Victor Anichebe's unerring finish from the edge of the area.
Roy Hodgson will have to sort out the spat between Peter Odemwingie and his goalkeeper Ben Foster towards the end of the game which summed up the Baggies lacklustre display.
Just two defeats in 11 league matches has seen Everton rise to seventh now and, although Liverpool can reclaim the advantage at Newcastle on Sunday, David Moyes' team have found form and confidence at exactly the right time.
Fluency
Aside from the hosts' 18th-minute opener, there were few incidents of note in the first half.
Osman, heading wide Leighton Baines' cross, and Darron Gibson, firing just over, both served early warnings to West Brom.
However, with Everton having exerted plenty of energy in booking an FA Cup semi-final place at Sunderland in midweek, it took the home side a while to find their fluency.
It came in ideal fashion as a good passage of possession play brought the goal and was probably the only period of the first half when they looked as though they were in real control.
When the ball was eventually worked to Osman in the inside right channel, he turned experienced defender Liam Ridgewell far too easily and offloaded to Nikica Jelavic on the edge of the penalty area.
The Croatia striker returned the pass and Osman fired goalwards only for the ball to take a huge deflection off McAuley and leave goalkeeper Ben Foster stranded.
West Brom's only chance of the half almost brought the equaliser when Tim Howard pushed Paul Scharner's shot into the path of Chris Brunt at the far post but the winger's attempt to smash home the rebound hit Shane Long and went behind.
Marouane Fellaini's low, long-range effort was tipped around the post by Foster before the Belgium midfielder reacted angrily to Keith Andrews raking his studs down his Achilles tendon but referee Peter Walton - in his final Premier League match before becoming general manager of the Professional Referee Organisation for the United States and Canada - awarded only a free-kick.
Tackles
Magaye Gueye replaced Osman for the start of the second half but the early incidents all involved Jelavic.
He had a half-chance from a near-post header which Foster caught easily before he was booked for catching Ridgewell on the back of the head with his arm.
West Brom's left-back was also on the receiving end of a late tackle from Tim Cahill, who was yellow-carded.
The Australia international was then replaced by Anichebe with just over an hour gone.
Everton appeared to have lost their way with West Brom showing signs of improvement but Jonas Olsson's foul on Steven Pienaar, which also warranted a caution, presented a good opportunity to establish a cushion only for Jelavic to curl his shot over.
Anichebe showed his fellow striker how it should be done in the 68th minute when he fired in off the far post after Pienaar's diagonal run.
Pienaar should have put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute having been played in by Jelavic but he shot straight at Foster.
Jelavic then headed wide Baines' shot and Gueye shot at Foster as, with the confidence of a two-goal lead, Everton attacked more fluidly.
Things were not so happy in the West Brom camp with Foster and Peter Odemwingie exchanging heated words as frustrations bubbled over late on.
| Everton |
Team Statistics |
West Bromwich Albion |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 5 |
Corners |
2 |
| 8 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.6 |
Passing Success |
78.8 |
| 17 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 76.5 |
Tackles Success |
61.5 |
| 53.4 |
Possession |
46.6 |
| 54 |
Territorial Advantage |
46 |
| 480 |
Total Passes |
411 |
| 22 |
Total Crosses |
17 |
| 157 |
Lost Balls |
164 |
| 67 |
Recoveries |
66 |
| 49 |
1st Half Poss. |
51 |
| 58.7 |
2nd Half Poss. |
41.3 |
|
