Everton hammered by ruthless West Brom

Everton’s stuttering Premier League campaign was dealt another hammer blow as West Bromwich Albion ran out 4-1 winners in a stormy encounter at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Defender Paul Scharner and midfielder Chris Brunt put the visitors into a two-goal lead which was halved before half-time by Tim Cahill’s header.

The Toffees played the final 30 minutes with 10 men after Mikel Arteta was dismissed, and were further punished through substitute Somen Tchoyi and an own goal from Sylvain Distin.

Youssouf Mulumbu was dismissed late on for the Baggies, but it was far too late for the home team to capitalise.

The two teams came into the game on poor runs of form with Everton winless in their previous four games and West Brom winless in five.

The home team made the brighter start and nearly opened the scoring after eight minutes but Scott Carson in the Baggies’ goal pulled off a fine save from winger Victor Anichebe’s curling shot.

Albion struggled to get a foothold in the game but from nowhere shocked their hosts to take the lead.

A rare foray into the Toffees’ half forced a corner, which Brunt whipped in for Scharner to head powerfully past Tim Howard in the home goal.

Everton pushed for an immediate response, but despite some territorial pressure they were stunned again by a second Albion goal.

Australia midfielder Cahill dragged down Mulumbu on the edge of the area presenting set-piece specialist Brunt with a glimmer of a chance which he took with aplomb, curling the free-kick into the top corner.

The contest sparked back into life shortly before the break when prolific midfielder Cahill struck to half the deficit.

Full-back Leighton Baines curled in an inviting corner which the ex-Millwall player rose to head past Carson.

Toffees’ striker Jermaine Beckford was denied by Carson’s smart save, but the home team’s chances of pulling level were severely dented when Arteta was sent off.

The Spaniard was incensed after Gonzalo Jara caught Baines with his arm, and executed his own revenge with a stamp which referee Lee Mason spotted and punished.

Despite a spell of pressure for the home team, the game was effectively sealed 15 minutes from time when Tchoyi finished superbly into the corner of the goal after weaving his way in from the left wing.

The scoreline took on an embarrassing appearance two minutes from time when Mulumbu’s shot was deflected into his own net by Distin.

Mulumbu managed to get himself booked twice before the end of the game, but the dismissal could not detract from a stunning win for Albion.