Albion 2 Everton 3 - Report and Pictures
This was undoubtedly entertainment - just not in a way Albion would have wanted.
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After some frustrating games at the Hawthorns to this point, the Baggies were involved in what is best described as a horror, rather than a thriller, as they contrived to blow a two-goal lead and lose to Everton.
It was a former Albion favourite, Romelu Lukaku, who played the starring role as he started and finished the Toffees dramatic second half comeback, after goals from Saido Berahino and Craig Dawson had put the hosts two to the good either side of half-time.
Lukaku gave Everton hope with a header, provided the pass for Arouna Kone to level and then, through what was almost sheer bloody-mindedness, bundled home the winner and leave Baggies head coach Tony Pulis shaking his head with disbelief.
Albion (4-2-3-1) Myhill, Dawson, Olsson (Chester 27), Evans, Brunt, Yacob, Fletcher, McClean, Morrison, Berahino, Rondon (Gardner 68) Subs: Anichebe, McManaman, Gnabry, Lambert, Lindegaard (gk).
Everton: Howard, Galloway, Jagielka, Mori, Browning (Gibson 72), Barry, Deulofeu, McCarthy, Barkley, Naismith (Kone 72), Lukaku Subs not used: McGeady, Oviedo, Lennon, Osman, Robles (gk). [/breakout]
Pulis made nine changes from the side which lost 3-0 at Norwich in the Capital One Cup last Wednesday.
Dawson and Jonas Olsson were the only two to survive - the latter due to a calf injury which forced Gareth McAuley to sit out.
Much as they had against Southampton in their previous home game, Albion made a bright start, without seriously testing visiting keeper Tim Howard aside from a James Morrison drive, which was straight at the American.
Too often, it was the final ball letting the Baggies down with a Darren Fletcher cross, after a great turn from the skipper, floating too far ahead of Salomon Rondon at the far post.
Everton's first real threatening moment, 20 minutes in, came after James Morrison's cross failed to beat the first man and the Toffees broke, only for Ross Barkley to run into the imposing figure of Olsson as he looked to break into the box.
It would not be the only nervy moment for the hosts, who lost Olsson to a suspected groin injury just past the midway point of the first half.
Barkley whistled a low free-kick from the right flank through a host of bodies with none making a touch.
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The England international was then guilty of missing the half's biggest chance, scuffing Deulofeu's cross wide from ten yards, a miss all the more more galling for Barkley as it was he who had begun the move with a delightful turn.
Yet Albion, struggling to create, were able to count on some incredibly sloppy defending to break the deadlock four minutes before the break.
Howard, looking to start a quick attack, rolled the ball out but after Mori had been robbed by Dawson, Gareth Barry passed straight to Morrison, who slid a through ball for Berahino to lift over the advancing keeper.
Compared to what had come before, it was a moment of stark clinicity from a player whose rehabilitation, following his deadline day outburst, continues apace.
Just four minutes remained in the half after his strike yet Everton might have levelled, Tyias Browning heading over from a corner while Chester, on for Olsson, was forced to clear from under the shadow of his own crossbar after James McCarthy sent a low cross fizzing across the face of goal.
Albion had a great chance to extend their lead in the opening minutes of the second half after the lively Morrison ran at the Everton defence. His shot was blocked but the loose ball ran to McClean, who sent his shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Another chance went begging when Baggies skipper Darren Fletcher couldn't direct Jonny Evans' cross on target from four yards out.
It mattered not, as the ball was poked out for the corner from which Dawson met Brunt's delivery to put the hosts two up and seemingly set fair for a comfortable three points.
Yet just 60 seconds later Everton were back in it as Lukaku rose above Chester to head home Deulofeu's cross.
The former Baggies loanee failed to get the right connection on another headed soon after but the warning signs were clear to Albion as the rejuvenated visitors pressed forward in search of a leveller.
Brunt showed quick awareness to clear behind as Lukaku again looked to burst through, while Barkley sent a free-kick fizzing into the wall.
A perfectly timed challenge from Mori prevented Berahino from likely making restoring Albion's breathing space just as the striker had been about to pull the trigger ten yards out.
It proved a pivotal moment as Lukaku, transformed by the goal, slid Kone to level with a shot into the bottom corner from eight yards out - the substitute being adjudged to be just onside by the assistant referee.
Six minutes from time, Lukaku had the final word as he pounced on more hesitation in the Baggies backline to get between Dawson and Chester and poke home another Deulofeu cross.
Even then, substitute Rickie Lambert should have rescued a point for Albion but shot wide from 12 yards out.
