West Brom – Everton Video Highlights, Recap, Reaction
West Brom – Everton was a tense clash against the Hawthorns that saw the Toffees overtake the Baggies to bolster their top four.
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Richarlison came home in the second half to win the three points for the Toffees, who have now won three straight games and Carlo Ancelotti’s boys have wins and have 46 points.
West Brom fought hard and Mbaye Diagne came close several times and saw a goal ruled by VAR as Sam Allardyce’s side are nine points behind with 11 games to go.
WATCH WEST BROM – FULL EVERTON REPLAY
Three things we learned
1. Clinical caramels show their courage: For all the class that Carlo Ancelotti breathes, we often forget how serious his teams are. Everton have now won three straight games and kept three shutouts on the spin, and that will appeal to Ancelotti. What will please him more is that they backed their victory at Liverpool with two narrow wins over Southampton and West Brom and that is what will put them in the top four at the end of the season.
2. Diagne a real handle: He’s been so unlucky the past few weeks and he’s given Everton center-backs a scorching night. Signing on loan in January, Sam Allardyce has found a nugget in Diagne and even though West Brom is relegated, which seems likely, he will surely be in the Premier League with another club next season. Diagne is a threat behind, races smart and is brilliant in the air. He would be perfect at Burnley, West Ham and Newcastle.
3. The four best living dreams: When you watch their remaining games, they have a very easy end of the season. Yes, they will face Manchester City on the last day, but at that point Pep Guardiola and his boys will only be thinking about the Champions League final (probably). Everton have a real chance of finishing in the top four and their streak in early April, just after the international break, will be key. They will next face Chelsea, which will be huge for both teams, but in April they will have Spurs, Arsenal, Aston Villa and West Ham in a row. In the current form, you would want Everton to win at least three of these matches. If they do, one of the top four places awaits you.
Man of the match: Mbaye Diagne – Came close three times and thought he scored a late equalizer. Has been really good since arriving on loan from Galatasaray. Another PL club will surely come looking for him.
West Brom started off brilliantly and came so close to taking the lead when Conor Gallagher cross found Mbaye Diange and his header was superbly recovered by Jordan Pickford.
Diagne was a threat throughout the first half as Everton failed to attack and West Brom harassed and harassed the Toffees.
Richarlison was played by Calvert-Lewin but his shot was deflected and although Diagne threatened at the other end, Calvert-Lewin fought off the best chance by hammering his shot straight at Sam Johnstone.
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West Brom came close twice early in the second half as Diagne returned a header and Gallagher scored a cross just in front of everyone.
Everton then took the lead as Gylfi Sigurdsson jumped off the bench and after his corner was half cleared he whipped up a delicious cross as Richarlison walked home.
Late in the game, West Brom went out of their way to try and score a point and they thought they did in the 93rd minute as Diagne walked home, but VAR rightly ruled him out for offside.