Baines a Belter As Blues Beat Baggies

Action match report by Thomas Preston Year 9

Former All Saint pupil Leighton Baines bags a brace to sink Baggies

A very low key start as both sides sized each other up, The crowd are quiet here, seemingly waiting for the players to entertain. Everton win the first corner of the match. Great cross from Mirallas causes panic. A claim for handball, but it is cleared. Anichebe holds the ball up and tries to pass but its miscued. Everton back on possession here and Fellaini strikes from 25 yards and the crowd gasps, but it is blocked by Olsson, good defending.  Dorrans strikes from the edge of the box for West Brom, but fine block from Distin. First danger for Everton’s defense here today, there’s a counter attack on here and Mirallas shoots from 20 yards which rolls wide after clipping the feet of Anichebe. A poor kick out from Ben Foster almost causes West Brom problems, but the midfield does well to close down Osman.  Anichebe almost scores! The attacker turns his man but overruns the ball. Sliding in, Anichebe’s block loops over Foster and just over the bar. Mirallas gets in down the left side, but his pull back is poor. Everton do get a corner out of it though. Fellaini hits the post! A long ball is played up to Distin who knocks it down for the Belgian the shot clips the angle of post and bar. Jagielka is playing at right back tonight, and is enjoying the opportunity to venture forward. Goodison is more upbeat now the fans are really getting behind their teams. Mirallas has switched to the right, with Pienaar coming to the left, leaving Anichebe up front alone but with Fellaini now being able to assist,

GOAL’ BAINES GREAT STRIKE!! 1-0 (It's a great strike from Baines, huge power, but for me Ben Foster is at fault there. He gets a touch and it goes through him, another goal for the left back. The game needed a goal, but Everton really deserved that). How will West Brom respond to the goal?  I just think that with Foster having got a touch, he'll be disappointed with that goal. Everton have been dominant since the goal. Baines cross causes panic in the Baggies box but Olsson manages to head the ball behind the goal. The corner causes panic but hit straight back to him, but after the ball is returned into the box, Foster finally claims it and aims to release Thomas on the counter. A free kick has been awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Pienaar by Billy Jones. Leon Osman restarts play with the free kick. Lukaku flagged offside. That's the fifth of those so far against West Brom already. Foul by Jones on Pienaar, and Everton have a set piece out wide, but it is wasted. The running and hassling by Anichebe. Not for the first time forces a West Brom defender into a hurried clearance, and Everton are back In possession. The link-up between Baines and Pienaar down the left is giving Everton so much joy since the switch of wings by Mirallas. He has barely touched the ball since he moved to the right, but Everton look dangerous every time the ball goes down the left. Thorne has an injury for West Brom, and receives treatment. Just looks like a clash of knees, Thorne does look to be in pain as he stays down. Possibly may have to be withdrawn from the match, unfortunately becomes definitely, as a stretcher is brought on. He may have twisted his knee. Yacob will replace Thorne, but thoughts with Thorne as he looks in huge pain. Goodison stands to applaud, which is nice. After that stoppage, the game has gone a touch flat as we meander to half time, Since the goal, West Brom have resorted to lumping ball forward, which isn’t helping them keep possession.

Anichebe brought down by Yacob in the penalty area. Baines is right over there positioning himself as he steps up to take the penalty. Baines scores the penalty!! 2-0 to Everton here at Goodison Park. (+ We will have three minutes of added time here in the first half).

2^nd half

As the second half gets under way Lukaku immediately has a shot on goal. It goes a good way over.  West Brom have to get players in support of Lukaku if they are to have a chance here. He is being left so isolated, even with the ball at his feet. Baines has been caught offside after more interchanges with Pienaar, trying for that hatrick.  West Brom win a corner, their first of the match on the counter attack Mirallas shoots and Foster gets down well to save and  tip wide (great goalkeeping) First booking of the game for Yacob, who barges into the back of Pienaar. (Sub: James Morrison replaced by Shane Long)

2-1!!! Shane Long scores. That's a horror show for Heitinga. Lukaku rounds Howard and shoots on goal. Heitinga is there to clear, but fails to clear and inexplicably allows Long to head home. Free kick to West Brom 25 yards out, as he take the crowd hold their breath as the shot beats the keeper but hit the bar and went over. Everton on the attack, wow that’s a huge appeal for an Everton penalty, and in fairness Anichebe was dragged to the ground by Yacob. Big call but ref says no. As Everton win back possession Leon Osman fires just over the bar, and this game now has an electric atmosphere and once again as Everton wins back possession Jagielka shoots just over the bar.(Sub: West Brom making their final change, Rosenborg on for Thomas). (Sub: Gibson has been brought on for Everton, Mirallas the man who came off). Oh no that's an awful miss from Osman. Pienaar hits the post but the ball rebounds out to Osman, who somehow hits the ball over (Sub: Anichebe off for Jelavic late substitution). Lukaku earns a late corner for West Brom but nothing comes from it.   (+ 4 Mins)

As the referee blows his whistle the Everton fan stands and erupt in joyous rapture. 2-1 to Everton the final score here at Goodison Park, what a game it has been here today.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)

Everton

24 Howard

03 Baines

05 Heitinga

06 Jagielka

15 Distin

11 Mirallas (Gibson - 66' )

18 Neville

21 Osman

22 Pienaar

25 Fellaini

28 Anichebe (Jelavic - 84' )

Substitutes

01 Mucha

04 Gibson

08 Oviedo

16 Hitzlsperger

07 Jelavic

14 Naismith

19 Gueye

West Bromwich Albion

01 Foster

03 Olsson

04 Popov

23 McAuley

28 Jones

07 Morrison (Long - 62' )

11 Brunt

14 Thomas (Rosenberg - 77' )

15 Thorne (Yacob - 43' Booked )

17 Dorrans Booked

20 Lukaku

Substitutes

13 Myhill

06 Ridgewell

30 Tamas

05 Yacob

08 Rosenberg

09 Long

32 Fortune

Ref: Oliver

Att: 31,376