West Brom v Everton

By Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

West Brom midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is nursing a groin injury

TEAM NEWS

West Brom will assess midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, who was forced off against Manchester City because of a groin problem.

Billy Jones deputised for the injured Steven Reid on Boxing Day, and is set to retain his place at right-back.

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini is a major doubt with an abductor strain that ruled him out against Sunderland.

Jack Rodwell is also sidelined, so Dutch utility player John Heitinga will continue in a midfield role.

MATCH PREVIEW

West Brom will hope the new year begins in the same style as the old one ended. I commentated on their 3-2 win at Newcastle and was very impressed with their performance. Prior to that they had won at Blackburn but it’s probably the Boxing Day draw at home to Manchester City that provided most cheer. It was a result that must have felt every bit as good as a victory as Albion became only the second team this season to shut-out Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and co.

Head coach Roy Hodgson will be satisfied with his team’s progress but knows there is room for improvement, particularly at the Hawthorns, where points and goals have been hard to come by. In fact, Hartlepool in League One are the only league side to have scored as few in front of their own supporters… both Pools and the Baggies have scored a measly seven on home turf.

Given Everton’s miserly defensive record it’s unlikely the floodgates will open just yet. The Blues have conceded just five goals in their last seven games, and with Phil Neville and John Heitinga screening in front of a well-drilled back four, teams are finding it hard to create chances.

Some might say that Everton were lucky to get an equaliser at Sunderland the other day. Certainly the penalty should not have been given but on the balance of play I believe they merited a point. That’s the second time recently I’ve seen them come from behind to earn a share of the spoils – David Moyes’s men might not be the prettiest team around but they never know when they’re beaten.

But what he’d give for a goalscorer. A big fat zero for Tim Cahill in 2011, Louis Saha has lost his scoring touch so left-back Leighton Baines is joint top scorer with three… all of them penalties!

All the evidence points to a tight affair with both defences on top and chances at a premium, so maybe we’ll see the first goalless draw between these sides for nearly thirty years.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom did the double over Everton in 2010-11, but the Toffees won 2-1 in a Carling Cup match earlier this season.
• Honours have finished even in just one of the 10 previous Premier League meetings between the sides – a 2-2 draw in May 2006.

West Brom

• West Brom’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City means the Baggies and Bayern Munich are the only teams to keep a clean sheet against Roberto Mancini’s side this season.
• Roy Hodgson’s side have won just one of their last five home league games – a 2-1 victory against Bolton in November – and only two all season.
• The Baggies have scored just seven home league goals – the lowest number in the division.

Everton

• The Toffees have scored 72% of their goals in the second half of matches, the highest figure in the top flight. They have not scored in the first half of their last six league games.
• They are one point shy of their 1,000th in the Premier League.
• According to Opta, Everton have played more Premier League games on 1 January than any other team. They’ve played 10 times on New Year’s Day and have only won twice, losing seven times.