RICH IS HEAD OF THE CLASS
Brazilian nods Everton towards Europe as Sam rages
RICHARLISON continued his red-hot form after Carlo Ancelotti’s clever substitution boosted Everton’s Champions League hopes.
Gylfi Sigurdsson came on in the 64th minute and went straight over to replace leftfooted Lucas Digne at an Everton corner-kick.
Less than a minute later the Blues had notched as the dead-ball expert crossed with his right-foot for Richarlison to head in after his initial delivery had been blocked.
It was Richarlison’s 12th goal this season in all competitions and the fourth game in a row he has scored.
It settled a tight contest as Sam Allardyce’s Baggies battled until the end and were denied an Mbaye Diagne equaliser in stoppage time by an incredibly tight offside decision.
Blues boss Ancelotti (right) said after a third straight win with a clean sheet: “With the inswinging ball we are more dangerous. Lucas was taking the corner but it is better to have Gylfi with an inswinging ball. We want to fight for the European positions and we are working really hard to be there. The Champions League would be a dream.
“Richarlison is a top striker and we have two up front who are really dangerous. We are there in the fight but we need to give even more.”
Sigurdsson said he knew his responsibility was as soon as he came on. “We had an idea it might be a setpiece that could win the game. I went on to create or score a goal because it was
0-0,” said the Iceland international.
“Richarlison is chipping in now at the right time. That is six points he has won us in the last two. We have to get on a run. If we can do that we can have a very good chance.”
West Brom nearly took the lead in the second minute but Senegal striker Diagne saw Jordan Pickford superbly claw away his header.
Diagne, signed on loan from Galatasaray in January, also shot over with an effort on the turn. At the other end Richarlison had a shot deflected over.
Everton should have taken the lead shortly before halftime when Bernard’s pass bounced to Dominic Calvertlewin in space. But keeper Sam Johnstone stood firm and made a block from the striker’s right-foot shot.
After the break, Diagne continued to cause problems for Everton but it was the visitors who took the lead in the 65th minute, Richarlison powering home a header from inside the six-yard box.
West Brom battled on and Diagne thought he had levelled but VAR backed up the assistant’s offside flag.
Manager Allardyce bemoaned the tight decision that cost his side a point: He said: “We scored a great goal but it was half a toenail offside. I feel hard done by, it is not a blatant offside.”
Time is running out for the Baggies in their bid to avoid relegation, but they face a vital clash with fourthfrom-bottom Newcastle on Sunday.