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Everton v West Brom - Match preview

 

Both sides come into this game looking to recover from recent setbacks that have seen them slide down the table. For the Toffees a win could send them as high as eighth - we just need to start converting chances and pressure into goals......

 

We have lost the same amoutn of games as Chelsea this season, but a chronic lack of firepower has seen us draw too many matches, meaning we now reside in a lowly 14th place rather than joint top with the Londoners.

Monday's draw with Sunderland ended in frustration, with Jermiane Beckford's glaring last minute miss denying us the three points.

 

Moyes has to start shuffling his strikers to try and work one of them into form. My preference would be Yakubu who looked like getting back to his best before being dropped for the continually ineffective Louis Saha.

West Brom arrive in poor form two though. Just a month ago they were in the top four after beating Arsenal away and drawing with Man United Old Trafford. But a defeat at Goodison on Staurday could see them drop into the relegation - a mark of how ridiculously close the league is this year.

With Chelsea up next it is vital we get a win as the league won't remain this close for long. If we aren't too careful we will have a similar situation to last year - rooted in the bottom half of the league no matter how many games we win in the second half of the year.

Team news wise Victor Anichebe is contention after scroing in the reserve derby in midweek. Marouane Fellaini misses the final game of his three match suspension while Leon Osman remains sidelined with a ankle problem.

 

Stats from the BBC

Head-to-head

• West Brom have managed only two wins to Everton's five in their eight previous Premier League meetings. The Toffees did the double over the Baggies in the 2008/09 season.

• West Brom's last league win at Goodison Park came in May 1979 when they won 2-0.

• Everton have lost only four of their last 25 Premier League matches.

• But they are winless in their previous four outings.

Tim Cahill has scored five goals in his last eight league appearances.

West Brom

• The Baggies have kept only one clean sheet in 14 league games this term.

• West Brom have not been involved in a goalless draw for over a year since their Championship stalemate at Coventry in October 2009.

• Roberto Di Matteo's side are the only Premier League side not to have conceded a headed goal this term.