Everton 1, West Brom 4: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict
Nov 29 2010 by Christopher Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail
WHATEVER awaits Albion in May, you are sure to enjoy the ride along the way.
Saturday was one of those games which Albion fans came to dream of this season.
Just to prove victories at Arsenal and excellent fightbacks at Manchester United were no flukes – which they weren’t – they then go and make us all look silly at Goodison Park (check out my prediction on Friday).
For the historians, this game is of some relevance. It was the first victory at Everton since 1979, the joint biggest Baggies away win in the Premier League and the first time they have won more than one game on their travels since their first spell in the current incarnation of the top flight back in 2002/03.
Roberto Di Matteo is also the first Albion manager to bring back three points from one of the two Merseyside giants – last time Albion claimed a win in the land of the Beatles, John Lennon was still alive, Brookside was three years away from starting, Liverpool ruled European football and teams were only given two measly points for a win. How times change.
The Baggies were worth their victory, which came to them courtesy of Paul Scharner, Chris Brunt, Somen Tchoyi and Youssouf Mulumbu goals. Somewhere in there, between Brunt and Tchoyi, Tim Cahill managed to grab one for Everton.
Good individuals performances aided Albion’s hopes.
Before Scharner powered in a 16th minute opener – a third of his 15 Premier League goals have come against Everton – David Moyes’ men were the stronger side. They were denied by Scott Carson, who chose a convenient time to reproduced his best game of the season.
His saves early on, notably from Victor Anichebe, kept Albion on course.
He was to continue that form during the game. It was not a case of Albion being poor, they were simply slower to get into their groove. This was understandable.
Scharner dropped back into defence for the first time this season. Perhaps it’s no coincidence he played his best game so far for the Baggies.
Further forward was Graham Dorrans. The Scotland midfielder has had a blank season so far. Ordinary by anyone’s standards, but we all remembered what he achieved last season so expectation was cranked up.
Only sporadically this season – versus Blues and Blackpool – has he shown the qualities which made him the club’s player of the season last year.
On Saturday he was incisive, inventive and full of energy. It was a ‘welcome back’ moment which, on reflection, must have been as pleasing to Di Matteo as the four goals his side were to score.
And what of the rest?
