Everton 2 - West Bromwich Albion 2

Dave Watkin:

With the pressure off, Albion turned in one of their best performances of the season against Everton at Goodison Park, only to lose a two goal lead in the dying stages.

Zoltan Gera was back close to his best and our top outfield player, how different our season might have been if he could have regained fitness earlier. His fellow midfielders Greening, Wallwork and Quashie all played well. Kanu provided the extra inspiration which has often been missing, but his partner Nathan Ellington failed to impress, illustrating perfectly the dilemma faced by Bryan Robson throughout the season. As usual, Curtis Davies was commanding at the back, the only serious candidate for player-of-the-season. Williams Martinez fulfilled the role of hero and villain, scoring on his full debut but implicated in both goals conceded. There was only one candidate for man-of-the-match, Tomasz Kuszczak, who made a series of outstanding saves and was desperately unlucky not to pick up a winning bonus.

The Baggies supporters earned praise from all quarters, behaving immaculately during the tribute to Brian Labone and led by Batman and Robin and inspired by the presence of Albion legend Bob Taylor, they backed the team throughout the ninety minutes. For once it was possible to enjoy the football, perhaps because we didn't have to worry too much about the result.

TEAM NEWS

Albion made one change. Defenders Martin Albrechtsen and Neil Clement joined Thomas Gaardsoe with long term fitness problems, so Williams Martinez made his full debut in the centre of the defence and Steve Watson moved to right back.

HIGHLIGHTS

Tomasz Kuszczak made the first of many excellent saves from an early header by ex-Baggie Kevin Kilbane, which he tipped over the bar. In the 14th minute the Baggies took a shock lead. Kanu fed Jonathan Greening out on the left touchline and he hit an early deep cross to the far post which was met by ZOLTAN GERA, at full stretch, who volleyed home superbly. There was plenty of pressure as the home side looked for an equaliser and Kilbane had another header turned over by the flying Pole. Before the break Kuszczak again defied Kilbane, when he made a miraculous double save from point-blank-range, as the Irishman tried to beat him at the near post.

In the 47th minute the home crowd were stunned when the Baggies went into a two goal lead. We began the half with a cross from Gera and a stooping header from Kanu which Turner in goal only just deflected round the post. From the Greening corner, Gera's back header reached WILLIAMS MARTINEZ and he confidently drilled the ball just inside the post from around eight yards.

The Albion fans were delighting in this unexpected success and within minutes were taunting the home support with an improvised song for Martinez rhyming "Uruguay" with "made the scousers cry". As the half continued Albion visibly grew in confidence and Kanu was close to making it three from another Gera cross, but Turner smothered his attempt. At the far end Kuszczak was performing miracles with at least two more top class saves and a "goal" from Ferguson was disallowed for offside. As the Toffeemen began to resort to long balls into the box, the Baggies fans sang "6-0 to the Albion" and "can we play you every week".

In quick succession, young Jared Hodgkiss was brought on for his Premiership debut in place of Watson, Stuart Nicholson replaced Ellington and Darren Carter came on for the impressive Gera. Maybe the changes were inadvisable in the context of the game, because the reshuffled side conceded twice in the last six minutes. In the 84th minute, ANICHEBE turned Martinez in the box and shot left footed across the keeper to pull a goal back. Then a minute into stoppage time Arteta was going nowhere, surrounded by three Albion defenders, when an unwise tackle from Martinez gave the referee the opportunity to award a penalty. Well past the 90th minute FERGUSON stepped up, on possibly his final Everton appearance, to take the kick. His shot was saved at full stretch by the remarkable Kuszczak, but the veteran striker was quickest to the rebound and even though the keeper got his legs to his strike, he couldn't prevent it crossing the line.

There was time for one more Albion attack and Ronnie Wallwork received the ball on the right and crossed for Stuart Nicholson who swept the ball home only to find that Wallwork had been flagged offside. Adrian Chiles contacted the BBC after the match and was told that replays showed the decision was incorrect and a goal should have been awarded. Nothing changes!

ALBION FORMRATE: GOOD

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: TOMASZ KUSZCZAK

We finished in 19th place with 30 points, four fewer than Blues, who equalled our last season's points tally but are relegated, because Portsmouth accumulated four more.

Chiang Mai Baggie:

Kanu And Ellington start up front with Martinez replacing Clement and Watson at right back. Albion wearing the white 3rd strip with navy shorts and red socks today.

Everton won a free kick near the corner flag on 2 minutes. The cross was cleared. Kuzzy saved well from Davies on 5 minutes. Everton wn a corner off Robinson on 7 minutes. Kuzzy caught the cross well. Albion conceded another corner on 8 minutes. Albion won a corner after a good run by Kanu on 10 minutes. Albion continued to pressure as Everton couldn't clear. Gera scored from a Greening cross on 15 minutes, running in on an early cross.

Albion won a free kick outside the box on 19 minutes, and Ellington's shot clipped the top of the wall. McFadden shot on 29 minutes, but the ball was deflected wide for a corner. The ball in was headed goalwards, and knocked behind for another corner by Kuzzy. Neville booked for a foul on Kanu on 30 minutes. Ellington shot just wide on 34 minutes from a Gera cross. Kuzzy saved well again off Kilbane on 38 minutes for a corner. Martinez did enough to distract Ferguson after a free kick was flicked on and the ball went out on 40 minutes. Osman went past Wallwork and shot on 43 minutes, but Kuzzy was able to collect. Everton won a corner on 45 minutes. Kuzzy punched clear. 1 minute added. Everton won another corner in injury time, but the ball was cleared. HT 0-1.

A cross was deflected on 47 minutes to Kanu, who's shot was saved for a corner by Turner. Greening's cross was flicked on by Gera and Martinez converted.

Everton won a corner off Davies on 49 minutes. Ferguson headed wide with Kuzzy covering. Kuzzy saved well again on 53 minutes. Ferguson put the ball in the net from a free kick, but the flag went up and it was ruled out on 55 minutes. Turner came out quickly to close down Quashie as he ran on to a through ball from Kanu on 59 minutes. Kuzzy saved again with his legs for a corner as McFadden went through 1 on 1 on 61 minutes. Hodgkiss on for Watson on 63 minutes.

Gera crossed well on 66 minutes after Kanu had previously tried to set up Ellington. Davies and Kilbane off for Van der Meyde and Anichebe on 67 minutes. Nicholson on for Ellington on 69 minutes. Kuzzy made another great save on 70 minutes from Ferguson.

Everton won a corner on 78 minutes, but the ball went out off Ferguson for a goal kick. Stubbs headed over from an Everton corner on 80 minutes. Greening put the ball behind for another corner on 82 minutes as Everton pressured. Anichebe scored for Everton on 84 minutes, beating Martinez and putting the ball through kuzzy's legs.

Nicholson used his pace to beat Weir on 72 minutes, but couldn't get a shot in. Gera subbed for Carter on 75 minutes.

Nicholson needed treatment on 86 minutes. Osman shot over the bar on 87 minutes after Everton refused to return the ball to Albion after they'd put the ball out. Everton won a penalty for handball on 89 minutes. Carter and another Albion player booked for protesting. Ferguson took it and Kuzzy saved, but scored from the rebound.

Sounds like they cheated their way into a point according to the AW commentators, who singled out Arteta for a couple of offenses late on to claim the penalty.

Steven:

Just like to say thanks to your away support at goodison today joining in with our tribute the to great late BRIAN LABONE.

Good luck next season - hope you bounce straight back - your support today was the best we have had at goodison park this season.

cliff61:

4 shots for Albion against 14 shots for Everton, let's face it, lets not pretend we were unlucky, Kuszczak saved us from a hiding again. Once again, as I've said before this season, we got a result coz the opposition FAILED, not coz we did anything special. The players Albion had on the pitch today should be better than a pathetic 39% possession against average opposition whose players, like for like, are really no better.

So once again you have to ask, why can't we retain the ball? Why can't we play the ball around with confidence? Answer? IMO, lack of organization, lack of running off the ball, just simple common sense really. David Moyes knows how to manage, organize and motivate, Bryan Robson obviously doesn't.

BTW, I've yet to see Nicholson do anything else except run around a lot.

costakiblue:

Cliff - absolutely spot on. Robson cannot organise or motivate. What chance Dowie coming our way?

bucksjim:

I also agree with Cliff. Some of the poverty of thinking and speed must relate to the players' defiencies (remember Gary Megsons comment in the Adrian Chiles documentary "every player I buy will have been rejected by someone else"). I think the tactics and team selection have also been as confusing to those players as to the fans. It will be interesting to see what kind of team emerges next season.