Premier League: Everton 1 West Brom 4

West Brom trounced Everton 4-1 on Saturday as Roberto Di Matteo’s side recaptured the form which saw them rise to fourth earlier in the season.

The Baggies raced into a two-goal lead within 26 minutes through Paul Scharner and Chris Brunt, but Tim Cahill’s header, three minutes before half-time, looked to have gotten Everton back on track at Goodison Park.

But when their captain Mikel Arteta was sent off for violent conduct just before the hour, Everton fell apart and Somen Tchoyi and Youssouf Mulumbu wrapped up the points with second-half goals.

Everton had started the game strongly with Victor Anichebe cutting in from the right and forcing Scott Carson into an acrobatic save on eight minutes.

Despite the early scare the visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when Scharner met Chris Brunt’s corner with a fierce header that left Tim Howard with no chance.

With Everton still dazed from conceding an early goal, Brunt piled on the misery for the home fans after he doubled the lead with a brilliant free-kick which flew into the top corner from 30 yards.

However, Everton fought their way back into the match through the talismanic Cahill who popped up with his eighth goal of the season. The Australian rose above the Baggies defence to meet a Leighton Baines corner with his head and give the Goodison Park crowd something to cheer before half-time.

Everton started positively after the restart but failed to muster any opportunities. They were then left further frustrated after Arteta was handed a straight red card when he stamped on Gonzalo Jara.

Substitute Jermaine Beckford came close to levelling the scores in the 64th minute but was denied by Carson who bravely dived at the striker’s feet to block the shot.

Tchoyi made it 3-1 in the 75th minute after he cut inside from the left and fired his effort into the far corner.

Mulumbu then sealed the win with a deflected shot in the 85th minute following a neat exchange of passes with James Morrison.