Slaven Bilic thought his West Bromwich Albion lost their way after conceding two goals against Leicester City last weekend. He could have said the same here after his side took the lead but shot themselves in the foot by losing a man and then their heads.
Though that would be a disservice to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had already scored once before Kieran Gibbs saw red, and the hatrick he mustered to send the Baggies to consecutive defeats on their return to the Premier League.
This was a game of goals - three in the first half and four in the second - and a largely equal affair throughout the opening period but it was Everton who took the upper-hand after the break and, in the end, cruised to their successive league win thanks to Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring instincts.
Story of the game
Following heavy rotation for the League Cup win against Salford City on Wednesday, it was a reversion back to the first-choice for Carlo Ancelotti who opted for the same starting XI that beat Tottenham Hotspur in the opening Premier League match last week. It meant home debuts for summer signings James Rodriquez, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Likewise Bilic, who also made 10 changes in midweek when hosting Harrogate Town, selected the same line-up that were beaten by three goals against Leicester City. By the time the visitors had made their way from their portacabin in the carpark onto the field of play they were warmed up and ready to go.
Despite Calvert-Lewin threatening to get the goalscoring started in the third minute, when heading a good opportunity wide, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 10th. West Brom broke through left-sided attacker Grady Diangana, a new recruit from West Ham United, and Ancelotti would have cursed how much space his Everton players afforded the advancing Baggie. When weighing up his options as he approached the Everton area Diangana chose the right one: shooting sweetly into the bottom right corner where Jordan Pickford was too slow to get to.
Bilic would have been happy with the start his side made; their energy and intent was clear and offered a much sterner introduction to Premier League football for Everton’s new signings than Spurs did last weekend. Jake Livermore struck the post having spun and used his hip to take control of the incoming cross.
Nevertheless, the hosts were not backwards in coming forwards either. Calvert-Lewin again went close with a quick-fire shot at the near post but his attempt was deflected wide. Allan saw his shot from distance easily lapped up by Sam Johnstone. A lot of Everton’s pressure was coming down the left with Lucas Digne and Richarlison a source of great creatively.
It was a cross from the right side, however, that brought Everton level. Seamus Coleman sent a delivery into the area for Richarlison but rather the ball bounced off the back of Semi Ajayi’s head for Calvert-Lewin to back-heel into the goal. It was originally ruled out for offside by experienced linesman Darren Cann but the VAR awarded the goal following close inspection.
It appeared West Brom would be heading in at the break at 1-1, as they had settled after conceding, but on the stroke of half-time James came alive to huge effect. Richarlison laid the Colombian off and with five West Brom players closing in on him, he swept a shot across Johnstone into the net. Then in stoppage time Gibbs stupidly raised his hand to James’s face, possibly through frustration, and he was given his marching orders. His manager soon followed as he was sent to the stands by referee Mike Dean having raised his voice at the official.
This was exactly what Bilic did not want. Deja vu from the week prior when they lost their way? Not quite, for it was they who equalised straight after the break with Mattheus Pereira placing a gorgeous free-kick over the wall and into the top corner. Sat in the Main Stand, the West Brom manager had something to smile about, but that ended there as Everton took the game beyond their visitors.
Firstly, Michael Keane, who scored his first goal at this stadium in three years during midweek, got another when he tapped in after Johnstone could only parry Richarlison’s close-range header that originated from a Digne free-kick. Down to 10-men the away side were more conservative, largely soaking up pressure but still a threat on the counter.
But just after the hour-mark Everton expanded their lead through the growing influence of James. It was his looping ball from a central position into the area that allowed Richarlison to guide the ball goalwards with a single touch and Calvert-Lewin was at the back post to slide the ball beyond the goal-line.
This was fine stuff from Everton, James in particular who was pulling the strings, but Calvert-Lewin is the club’s goalscorer and he claimed his hatrick - and his fourth goal of the season already - when Gylfi Sigurdsson curled a corner in and the unmarked attacker managed to get the back of his head to the ball and sent it past Johnstone. West Brom’s defending off the corner was questionable but they were long defeated here.
It could have been more when Richarlison dispatched a fierce first-time shot following a pinpoint cross only for him to be rightly deemed offside. There was no way he could steal Calvert-Lewin’s spotlight today.
Takeaways
James grows in influence
At the start of the game, West Brom were posing a much tougher test to Everton’s defensive rigour than Spurs did last weekend. Whereas Jose Mourinho’s players were slow and predictable, West Brom were physical and domineering. This was the first introduction of up-and-at-‘em Premier League football for Allan and James. For the first half hour, they had to be on their toes in a defensive sense as the visitors saw more of the ball and worked their way into dangerous positions. Pickford was needed on numerous occasions.
But it was in the second half, when West Brom were down a man, that James grew in influence. He dictated the second period with his incisive movement from right into the centre. His passes, both long and short, created opportunities. He was instrumental in Calvert-Lewin’s second goal, ‘got’ Gibbs sent off and scored his first goal for the club. Not a home debut for the club’s star signing.
West Brom must remain calm
For the second league game running, West Brom struggled after conceding a second goal. Bilic called on his players to stretch their quality across the 90 minutes rather than playing well for one half. The sending off of Gibbs cost West Brom, and Bilic’s incensed reaction, spoke of a side that are not all that stable on the pitch. Having played well for so long in the first half, the game spun on those few seconds.
The newly-promoted side must address this if they are to settle properly back into the Premier League. That is now eight goals conceded after just two games. Mindset rather than physicality has let them down so far.
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne; Doucoure (Sigurdsson 65), Allan, Gomes; James (Kean 78), Calvert-Lewin (Iwobi 71), Richarlison.
Subs (not used): Virginia, Kenny, Bernard, Davies.
West Brom: Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, O’Shea, Gibbs; Pereira (Phillips 71), Livermore, Sawyers (Field 75), Diangana (Edwards 71); Robinson.
Subs (not used): Button, Harper, Kipre, Robson-Kanu.
Referee: Mike Dean.