West Bromwich Albion vs Everton. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance25,364.
Tuesday 26 December 2017 19:55, UK
West Brom's Premier League winless run stretched to 18 games with a turgid 0-0 draw with Everton at The Hawthorns on Boxing Day.
The Baggies are now without a win in the Premier League since August 19 - one game shy of the all-time winless record - as Salomon Rondon and Craig Dawson spurned clear chances to end their alarming streak and hand Alan Pardew his first victory at the club at the sixth time of asking.
Everton, bolstered by the return of Yannick Bolasie from a year-long injury absence, were toothless and disjointed going forward but extended their unbeaten start to life under Sam Allardyce to seven games.
The result does little for West Brom who remain 19th in the Premier League, although they are three points from safety, while Everton stay in ninth.
With the unwanted Premier League winless streak looming, West Brom nearly made the perfect start inside six minutes as Jay Rodriguez's cross fell perfectly for Rondon, but the Baggies striker failed to hit the target from close range.
Rondon remained are the forefront of the hosts' attack but, having knocked Christ Brunt's 10th-minute delivery back across goal, no one was on hand to convert.
When a team-mate was in position, they failed to make it count as Dawson headed Matt Phillips' driven cross over the bar on 19 minutes.
Throughout the first half Everton offered very little as their youthful, experimental frontline struggled to retain possession against the hosts - although both sides were at fault for the lack of quality.
Rondon injured his hamstring while slicing a shot horribly wide on 50 minutes, his subsequent substitution typifying both sides' troubles in front of goal.
Rodriguez and Kieran Gibbs had brief glimpses of goal, as did Everton substitute Oumar Niasse, but there was to be no way through for either side - the Baggies host Arsenal next time out looking to avoid an unwanted record.
Alan Pardew: "We were good all the way through and really should have won. it's difficult to understand why we haven't won that today but we go to the next game.
Sam Allardyce: "The squad has been tested to the limit today and we've managed to get a point. It was a battling point rather than a good performance."
West Brom's finishing was wayward at best as they missed the chance to bring their winless run to an end. When the Baggies were able to ask questions of Jordan Pickford, though, he had the answers, and some. He commanded his area against the aerial Albion threat with the authority of a goalkeeper further on his career, setting the tone from the back for an Everton side who were tame going forward.
The festive schedule sees West Brom host Arsenal on New Year's Eve while Everton travel to Bournemouth on December 30.
