Going in to today's match, West Brom and Everton were two of the better team in the league at this very early point of the season. After 90 minutes at the Hawthornes, West Brom can still claim to be one of the better teams. Goals from Shane Long and Gareth McAuley brought the Toffee's 11-match unbeaten streak to an end as the Baggies cruised to a 2-0 win.
Everton were the better side early in the first half, looking confident with possession until midfielder Darron Gibson went down with an injury in the 20th minute. It was a non-contact injury and appeared to be some kind of groin issue for Gibson. Tony Hibbert replaced him, but Everton never looked the same after that.
West Brom's goals in the second half, the first in the 65th minute when Liam Ridgewell found Peter Odemwingie in space on the left side and his cross found Shane Long, who had beaten Sylvain Distin, who poked the ball past Tim Howard. McAuley scored in the 82nd minute with a nice header off a Chris Brunt corner.
Everton will be left lamenting two missed opportunities for Maroune Fellaini who was well off the form he'd established in the season's first two weeks.
The Baggies have now taken seven points from nine this season, including empathic defeats of both clubs from the Merseyside. Not a bad start at all for Steve Clarke's side.