WEST BROMWICH ALBION v EVERTON
Barclays Premier League
Monday 20th January 2014, 8:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 159th league and cup meeting between Albion and Everton. The Toffees currently lead the way in the victory stakes with 65 wins compared to Albion's 58.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2007 when they beat Leeds United 3-2 in a League Championship clash at Elland Road.

Everton's last game on January 20 came in 2008 when they won 2-1 away at Wigan Athletic in the Premier League.

Nicolas Anelka has scored eight Premier League goals against Everton, only netting more against Blackburn Rovers (12).

Albion's last six games: Southampton (A) 0-1; Crystal Palace (H, FAC) 0-2; Newcastle United (H) 1-0; West Ham United (A) 3-3; Tottenham Hotspur (A) 1-1; Hull City (H) 1-1

Everton's last six games: Norwich City (H) 2-0; Queens Park Rangers (H, FAC) 4-0; Stoke City (A) 1-1; Southampton (H) 2-1; Sunderland (H) 0-1; Swansea City (A) 2-1

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Pepe Mel will be without Billy Jones (eye) and Goran Popov (neck) for his first game in charge of the Baggies.

He could be boosted though by the return of Stephane Sessegnon and former Everton striker Victor Anichebe with the duo making progress following their recent injuries.

Mel and the club also have to decide whether to play French striker Nicolas Anelka with the club’s sponsor Zoopla alleged to have demanded he doesn’t figure against Everton following his controversial celebration against West Ham.

Squad: Foster, Myhill, Daniels, Ridgewell, Olsson, McAuley, Lugano, Brunt, Sessegnon, Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Berahino, Yacob, Vydra, Anelka, Morrison, Dawson, Reid, Sinclair, Anichebe, Gera, Rosenberg.

Everton

New signing Aiden McGeady goes straight into the Everton squad for Monday night’s game and the Toffees are also boosted by the return of Sylvain Distin who is back from a hamstring injury after a three-week lay-off.

Exciting young midfielder Ross Barkley misses out due to a broken toe whilst Antolin Alcaraz is also missing. They join long term absentee's Arone Kone and Darron Gibson on the sidelines.

Squad: Howard, Coleman, Distin, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar, Lukaku, Robles, Stones, Hibbert, Heitinga, McGeady, Naismith, Oviedo, Gueye.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Pepe Mel:

“The supporters really are at the heart of the club. They are absolutely vital. Of course managers and players both come and go - but the supporters remain there. I hope to see the fans doing the 'Boing Boing' many times in the coming months. And I hope to be here at West Brom for a very long time, I’m very excited by the prospect, and everything starts this week.

“If you’re a football player or a coach the Premier League is the place to be. For me West Bromwich Albion have very good players and I change the mentality only. I’ve told the players that in football possession of the ball is absolutely vital. You can’t go through 90 minutes of football without having the ball. We need to get it back as quickly as possible.

"There are still four months to go in the season and we’ll go on to have a really great future. It would be great if Albion could go on to compete in Europe in the future. When I arrived at Real Betis they were a second-tier team and now they have played in Europe."

www.wba.co.uk

Everton boss Roberto Martinez:

“I think Pepe Mel will surprise a lot of people. He was very successful in his time in Spain. The first time I realised about his work was when he was at Rayo Vallecano and he got them promoted to the top division on a limited budget and probably against the odds. Since then he has done a remarkable job wherever he has been. At Betis he got them qualified for the Europa League.

“He is very clear in the way that he wants to play and very clear in his concepts and I can see the West Brom side being very different when we face them on Monday than what they have been so far this season. We wish Pepe Mel the very best of luck - but after Monday.”

“Are they an unknown quantity? No, we know their players really well and it’s not like we are facing a team we have never seen or played. They will do things differently and try to play in a different manner but we will concentrate on ourselves and be as good as we can in the things we do.

“I’m expecting a very open game and to be playing a team that is adapting to a new manager. That will give them real bravery and they will be really difficult [opponents] in that respect.”

www.evertonfc.com

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 11/5, Everton Win: 13/10, Draw: 11/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anelka 15/2, Anichebe 15/2, Berahino 8/1, Vydra 9/1, Sessegnon 10/1, Morrison 14/1, Gera 16/1, Brunt 16/1, Sinclair 16/1, Amalfitano 25/1, Mulumbu 25/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Yacob 33/1.

Everton: Lukaku 9/2, Mirallas 7/1, Vellios 7/1, Naismith 15/2, Osman 9/1, Gueye 9/1, Baines 10/1, McGeady 11/1, Pienaar 12/1, Oviedo 20/1, Coleman 20/1, Barry 25/1, McCarthy 25/1, Jagielka 33/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Oliver has refereed Albion twice previously this season - the 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in September and the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at The Hawthorns in November.

The Northumberland official took charge of four Albion games last season - the 2-1 defeat at home to Liverpool in the Capital One Cup in September, the 2-1 win over Chelsea at The Hawthorns in November, the 2-1 defeat at Everton in January and the 5-5 draw with Manchester United in May.

Oliver has refereed one Everton game this season - the 2-2 draw at Norwich back in August.

So far this season Oliver has issued 81 yellow cards and three red cards in the 21 games he has officiated.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets remain on general sale to Albion fans.

WEATHER FORECAST

Light cloud, 3°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

Albion have beaten Everton four times at The Hawthorns in Premier League action, only against Sunderland (5) have the Baggies won more games against a team at home.

Saturday 23 August 2008 - Albion 1-2 Everton - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Sunday 7 May 2006 - Everton 2-2 Albion - Premier League - Goodison Park
Saturday 19 November 2005 - Albion 4-0 Everton - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Sunday 3 April 2005 - Albion 1-0 Everton - Premier League - The Hawthorns
Saturday 28 August 2004 - Everton 2-1 Albion - Premier League - Goodison Park
Wednesday 11 January 1989 - Everton 1-0 Albion - FA Cup 3rd Round Replay - Goodison Park
Saturday 7 January 1989 - Albion 1-1 Everton - FA Cup 3rd Round - The Hawthorns
Tuesday 16 April 1985 - Everton 4-1 Albion - First Division - Goodison Park
Wednesday 24 September 1980 - Everton 1-2 Albion - League Cup 3rd Round - Goodison Park
Saturday 1 December 1979 - Albion 1-1 Everton - First Division - The Hawthorns
Saturday 2 September 1972 - Everton 1-0 Albion - First Division - Goodison Park
Saturday 18 May 1968 - Albion 1-0 Everton - FA Cup Final - Wembley Stadium

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-0 Everton
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 1 September 2012, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster; Reid (Jones 53), McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Dorrans (Odemwingie 58), Morrison, Fortune; Long (Brunt 76). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Dawson, Rosenberg, Gera.

Goalscorers: Long 65, McAuley 82

Booked: Reid 47 (foul)

Everton: Howard; Neville (Anichebe 73), Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Naismith (Mirallas 61), Gibson (Hibbert 20), Osman, Pienaar; Fellaini, Jelavic. Subs not used: Mucha (gk), Coleman, Gueye, Heitinga.

Booked: Hibbert 36 (foul), Neville 70 (foul), Fellaini 71 (foul)

Attendance: 25,383

Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)

Goals by Shane Long and Gareth McAuley ended Everton's 11-game unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League as West Brom wrapped up a Merseyside double at the Hawthorns. Albion took their points tally to seven from a possible nine at the start of the season as they followed up their opening-day win over Liverpool with another emphatic victory. Long made it three goals in four days - after his brace at Yeovil in the Capital One Cup - as he converted a low cross from substitute Peter Odemwingie before McAuley headed home from a set-piece to condemn Everton to a first league defeat since March 24 against Swansea.

Albion were good value for their win with James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu controlling the midfield and McAuley a rock-solid performer in the heart of the defence. Everton were left to regret two missed opportunities by Marouane Fellaini at the start of the second period, but they could have no complaints with the result after lacking a cutting edge over 90 minutes.

Everton controlled the early stages and McAuley blocked a shot from Steven Pienaar. Nikica Jelavic got on the end of a corner from Leighton Baines and was disappointed to send his near-post header well wide. The Toffees suffered a setback when midfielder Darron Gibson pulled up suddenly and had to be replaced by right-back Tony Hibbert with skipper Phil Neville switching to the centre of the park. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard dealt comfortably enough with a dipping attempt from Steven Reid but Albion came close to taking the lead after 29 minutes. Left-back Liam Ridgewell supplied a teasing cross which was met by Baggies striker Shane Long and his header thumped against the crossbar. Hibbert became the first player to be booked after 36 minutes for a late challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Everton continued to look the more composed on the ball and Fellaini peeled away from his marker at the far post only to send his header over the bar from a Hibbert cross. But Albion again went close a minute before half-time. Morrison made a probing run and, after cutting inside, found himself with only Howard to beat. But the American stood up and beat away a fiercely struck shot from the midfielder who had recovered from an ankle injury to play.

Reid was booked two minutes into the second half for a mis-timed challenge on Pienaar before he limped out of the action to be replaced by Billy Jones. Fellaini had Everton's best chance to that point after 55 minutes after Neville had headed a clearance from Ridgewell back into the box. He turned sharply enough to create the opening but dragged his shot across the face of goal. The Belgium international spurned an even better opportunity five minutes later when he side-footed over from 10 yards after racing onto a low cross from substitute Kevin Mirallas. It proved a costly miss as Long broke the deadlock after 65 minutes. Ridgewell found Odemwingie in space on the left flank and his low cross picked out Long who got in front of Sylvain Distin to steer the ball past Howard. Distin, Neville and Fellaini were all booked in quick succession for fouls as Albion looked to turn the screw. Argentinian midfielder Claudio Yacob was only inches wide with a fierce long range drive and Howard tipped over a powerful shot from Mulumbu. But with seven minutes left McAuley sealed the win with his glancing header from a Chris Brunt corner.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku spent the 2012/13 season on loan at The Hawthorns, hitting 17 goals in the process. He joined Everton, again on a season long loan, on transfer deadline day 2013.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Brett Angell, Laurie Bell, Walter Boyes, David Burrows, John Cameron, Kevin Campbell, Stan Davies, Thomas Dilly, Peter Eastoe, Albert Flewitt, Tony Grant, Andy Gray, Asa Hartford, Paul Holmes, William Jordan, Kevin Kilbane, Andy King, Ken McNaught, Bruce Rankin, Sid Rawlings, Fred Rouse, John Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Imre Varadi and Steve Watson.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS EVERTON