Everton 2 West Brom 0: Match report

Feb 28 2009

Injury-jinxed Louis Saha reminded everyone at Goodison Park what a fine finisher he can be when he is eventually able to overcome countless injuries and get onto the pitch.

The Frenchman has been out since November with a hamstring problem, but, after coming on as a second-half substitute, he produced a stunning finish on the turn from nearly 30 yards to settle the points for Everton.

Saha has now scored four in 13 appearances for the club he joined in the summer from Manchester United, and this strike was full of genuine quality.

Earlier Tim Cahill had scored his eighth goal of the season to put Everton ahead at the break and, despite a spirited fightback, Albion are left rooted at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

With Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe and Jack Rodwell all added to their injury list, Everton were happy to welcome back Tony Hibbert and Tim Cahill from suspension, with Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini both returning from injury.

Moyes also restricted Joleon Lescott to the bench, because if the England international had picked up a booking in this Barclays Premier League clash, he would have been suspended for the FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough on March 8.

West Brom, who last won a league game at Goodison Park in 1979, had Chris Brunt and Ryan Donk back following the defeat at Fulham last time out.

And they started brightly, winning a flurry of set-pieces. Albion then saw two chances fall to Marc-Antoine Fortune. The first found him in space on the left, but his shot that was fielded by Tim Howard.

Then Fortune got away through the middle after Fellaini lost possession, but again his drive was held by the Everton 'keeper.

Robert Koren tried his luck from 20 yards, this time the ball flashing wide of a post.

But Everton suffered yet another injury problem soon after. Hibbert looked to have damaged a thigh early on, and after 26 minutes he was replaced by Leon Osman.