EVERTON...... 3 WEST BROM.. 0
ROM’S TOP OF CHARTS AGAIN
ROMELU LUKAKU drew level with Harry Kane in the race for the Premier League’s golden boot.
The Belgian followed up first-half goals from Kevin Mirallas and Morgan Schneiderlin with a 19th of the campaign, and a seventh in five, to secure a 3-0 victory. Ronald Koeman’s side have now not dropped a point at Goodison Park since a loss to rivals Liverpool prior to Christmas after this success over a West Brom team only one place beneath them in the table, but a class below here. The Toffees boss said: “It was an outstanding team performance. In the second half, we controlled it. “Our defensive organisation from set plays was outstanding. “We will always score because we have those types of players. “Normally Lukaku will score in every game. But you need to fight, defend and run. The pressing in midfield was outstanding. “Our target is to play next season in Europe. We know maybe seventh position will bring it.” West Brom manager Tony Pulis said: “Conceding the two goals before half-time killed us. Before that we were in the game. “Lukaku and Ross Barkley were outstanding. “Everton are the best team outside the top six. They’ve got real quality.” The hosts’ opener came when Lukaku drifted out to the right and saw his pass inside bounce off a couple of Baggies defenders before falling to Barkley. Although his shot was parried by Ben Foster, Mirallas reacted quickest to apply the finish. That was soon added to by a second before t he break as Koeman’s side reached the interval in charge.
Again it stemmed from Lukaku on the right and this time he turned inside, fended off Jonny Evans and slipped in Schneiderlin, who took a touch beyond Jake Livermore before clipping beyond Foster.
His first Everton goal made the interval all the sweeter for the home support, including boxer Tony Bellew, who came on to the pitch to receive a round of applause from his fellow Evertonians a week on from his victory over David Haye.
The slow pace did give Tom Davies and Barkley a chance to shine in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate, and the latter could have furthered his case had his twisting run ended in anything other than a shot into the side netting.
However, there was still time for him to make the highlights package when he delivered the back-post cross that Lukaku nodded home in the 82nd minute as Alan Nyom lost his man.
Substitute Idrissa Gueye was denied a fourth by the woodwork and this was as comfortable and routine as Koeman could have hoped for.
His spirits will only have been dampened by two bits of injury news, James McCarthy’s latest hamstring-related setback and Leighton Baines’ withdrawal at half-time.