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Post by Everton News. on Feb 13, 2016 17:29:20 GMT
Everton 0 - 1 West BromWasteful Everton frustrated as Salomón Rondón steals win for West BromA very Tony Pulis type of victory also made for a sadly symptomatic defeat for Roberto Martínez. Purism 0 Pragmatism 1, perhaps. Salomón Rondón’s goal secured West Bromwich Albion’s first win in six league games and halted Everton’s revival after a hat-trick of 3-0 victories. Yet it came in extraordinary fashion that nonetheless reflected their two managers. There are few more attractive or attacking sides than Everton but few who are breached in such avoidable fashion so often and none who concede as many goals on their own turf. No Premier League team has seen as little of the ball as Albion this season yet they barely required it Goodison Park. Their exercise in efficiency coincided with a display of wastefulness from an Everton side who have not realised their considerable potential. They had 74% of possession, 34 shots and 14 corners but failed to score. Albion earned their clean sheet, in part for their colossal levels of commitment. They were epitomised by Jonas Olsson, who set the tone for his afternoon by blocking Seamus Coleman’s second-minute shot, flung his body in the way of everything that came remotely near him thereafter and found the time to set up Albion’s goal. It came in eminently predictable fashion. Albion excel at set-pieces; Everton struggle to defend them. Olsson met Stéphane Sessègnon’s corner with an emphatic header. He was denied a goal purely by the predatory Rondón, who applied the finishing touch. It was the first goal Joel Robles had conceded in six league games. The Spaniard had been preferred to a fit-again Tim Howard, with Martínez seeming to indicate a move in the goalkeeping pecking order. Robles was denied the chance to vindicate his manager thereafter. Albion’s attacks were so few he was rarely required. A further 48 minutes elapsed between the goal and their next notable effort and even that, from Chris Brunt, was off target. West Brom’s Salomón Rondón chests the ball into the Everton net at Goodison Park. The teamsheet had brought the implication Albion would be more progressive. Saido Berahino secured a recall but his first league start since October came in an unfamiliar role as a central midfielder. He swiftly became an auxiliary anchorman as Everton’s response to going behind amounted to a sustained assault. Ramiro Funes Mori had a header cleared off the line, Aaron Lennon’s bouncing shot was tipped over the bar by the back-pedalling Ben Foster, and Ross Barkley’s shot hit the post with the goalkeeper a motionless spectator. The woodwork was struck for the second time in four minutes when Tom Cleverley fooled Foster with an over-hit cross. The range of those who came close is an indication of the commitment to attack. Romelu Lukaku was a notional lone striker but found himself surrounded by colleagues. Full-backs Coleman and Bryan Oviedo appeared wingers. Funes Mori and Phil Jagielka in effect constituted a back two. Rondón, Albion’s isolated striker, came off with an acute case of loneliness. Foster saved from Coleman and James McCarthy and Gareth Barry blazed over, yet they were long-range efforts. Albion erected a barrier in front of their penalty area. When Jonny Evans stuck out his right leg to turn Barry’s shot wide, a rearguard action was almost completed. Their collective resilience was allied with a determination to delay goal kicks and free kicks. There were still 40 minutes remaining when the Albion captain, Darren Fletcher, was booked for timewasting. The Goodison Park public felt that had begun rather earlier. It continued, with Foster collecting a caution for the same crime, but Albion’s resistance spanned the entire 95 minutes. Guardian
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Post by Jeffers Jugs on Feb 13, 2016 17:47:33 GMT
if we cant beat that shower at home we might as well give up now. lennon was our best player so why take him off, and lukaku was lethargic. we keep trying the same thing instead of doing something different and to see kone come on was nothing more than disheartening. we can only beat shit teams and that's all we have managed this season
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Post by dorf on Feb 13, 2016 18:18:53 GMT
All strikers have dip in form so sometimes they need to play through it.
Like Jeffers said we can only beat crap teams.
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Post by Avinalaff on Feb 13, 2016 19:16:16 GMT
Members can watch the full match again in our matchroom
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Post by Avinalaff on Feb 13, 2016 20:34:32 GMT
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