Everton 2 West Brom 0: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Mar 2 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

IT’S showtime! Darken the room, turn on the projector and sit back.

Prepare to witness everything that is right, wrong and indifferent about Albion’s Premier League crusade.

There will be times you want to get off your seat and applaud.

Moments of comedy will make you chuckle. Not always in a good way.

And there will be bits where you put your hands over your eyes and cringe.

I suspect this is what Tony Mowbray goes through after various games when he sticks a re-run of his team’s performances on the DVD. This time it was all condensed into 90 minutes at Goodison Park.

It was a 2-0 defeat. But not as we know it.

The Baggies were dynamic, positive and, frankly, worthy of far more.

It was at the back where the “18” certificate was being bandied around. Another set-piece, another panic, another inevitable roll of the eyes and pointing of fingers.

Albion had already scrambled their way through four corners and free-kicks before Tim Cahill scored Everton’s opener.

The Australian had missed an earlier chance when Chris Brunt and Paul Robinson momentarily downed tools and allowed the midfielder to peel away from them. On that occasion he slipped and sliced his shot.

In the 36th minute he made no such mistake. Leighton Baines’ free-kick was delivered into the crowded box. Albion’s defenders stepped forward but Abdoulaye Meite retreated the other way. Jo ventured offside but Cahill and Marouane Fellaini were not. Goal awarded.

Albion had already tested Tim Howard’s resolve by that point. Marc-Antoine Fortuné had three great chances to score. The first one was similar to his opener against Newcastle but lacked the power. The second was a long-range effort and the third a low shot which was again stopped by the home keeper.

After the break, Robert Koren drove forward from the centre but saw his shot whistle just wide.

Jonathan Greening returned to an ovation, while Luke Moore’s introduction sparked more potency.

While Jay Simpson struggled, Fortuné lacked the final finish, yet Moore came into his own.