Everton take all three points from The Hawthorns after a Richarlison bullet header, which leaves Albion nine points away from safety with 11 games to go.

West Brom began the clash with focus and intent to attack. The Baggies were able to pass the ball and link play to good effect in the early stages. This culminated with a powerful Mbaye Diagne header, destined for the back of the neck, clawed away by an outstretched Jordan Pickford.

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Conor Townsend and Conor Gallagher also looked full of confidence, eating up ground in midfield and creating space for Matheus Pereira and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to get in behind Diagne.

Matt Phillips also looked more like the player we had become accustomed to in the Premier League, peppering Pickford’s with shots from afar.

Everton did show flashes of their quality from around the 25 minute mark with Abdoulaye Doucoure surging from midfield, although lacking the final ball.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was presented with the chance of his life just before half time, as the ball broke in front of him on the edge of the box – only to smash it straight at Sam Johnstone’s legs.

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The second-half saw more of the same, with Albion and the Toffees going at each once more.

Carlo Ancelotti clearly felt he needed a change, sending on Allan and Gylfi Sigurdsson – within ten minutes, the visitors were in front after a bullet header from Richarlison. The assist? The substitute Sigurdsson.

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The game dulled out from this point and Everton looked to be in control, until Diagne caught the ball on his chest in the 93rd minute, taking it down and smashing it into the back of the net.

But, his left toe was offside and so the goal did not stand – an absolute sickener.

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Sam Allardyce and Albion can take comfort from the performance – Albion absolutely dominated the first half and easily could have won the game.

With Fulham losing at Spurs, it really does seem like last chance saloon vs. Newcastle now, though – quite frankly, it is three points or we are down.

Roll on Sunday.

Ratings: Johnstone (7), Furlong (5), O’Shea (7), Bartley (7), Townsend (7), Yokuslu (8), Gallagher (6), Maitland-Niles (6), Pereira (4), Phillips (6), Diagne (7.5). Subs: Robson-Kanu (5), Snodgrass (5)

Teams

West Brom: Johnstone; Furlong, O’Shea, Bartley, Townsend; Yokuslu; Pereira, Gallagher (Robson-Kanu 78′), Maitland-Niles, Phillips (Snodgrass 78′); Diagne

Unused Subs: Button, Ajayi, Peltier, Sawyers, Livermore, Robinson, Grant

Booked: O’Shea (60′), Furlong (68′), Yokuslu (82′)

Everton: Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Godfrey; Iwobi, Doucoure, Gomes, Digne; Bernard; Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

Unused Subs: Tyrer, Virginia, Nkounkou, Onyango, Broadhead

Booked: Holgate (37′)

Referee: Darren England