Premier League preview: West Brom v Everton

Just a point behind and with a game in hand, Everton travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

After consecutive 1-0 English Premier League losses to Stoke City and Arsenal, Everton have been unbeaten for their last three matches, drawing 1-1 with Norwich City, beating Swansea City 1-0 and scraping a 1-1 draw on Monday with Sunderland.

Belgium international midfielder Marouane Fellaini and winger Seamus Coleman are both doubtful after sitting out against Sunderland.

Tim Cahill stepped in for Fellaini, with John Heitinga moved to midfield and Sylvain Distin drafted in at the back against Sunderland. Manager David Moyes will look to do the same again if Fellaini and Coleman do not recover.

Everton have been missing creativity in midfield through the continued absence of hamstring victim Jack Rodwell, but left-back Leighton Baines is confident of a result.

“It’s always tough down there,” Baines told evertontv.com.

“We have ground out a couple of decent results in the past. We know it will be a tough game but we are confident that we can win it.

West Brom held Manchester City scoreless for the first time this season in their 0-0 draw at the Hawthorns on Monday, and manager Roy Hodgson will be looking to extend his side’s three-match unbeaten run after beating Newcastle United 3-2 and Blackburn Rovers 2-1.

Albion have only lost once in their last five matches, with a 1-2 home loss to Wigan Athletic on December coming after a 1-1 away draw at Queens Park Rangers.

Hodgson will be counting on West Brom’s first choice strike pairing of Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie to continue pouring in the goals after both overcame early season injury problems.

Goals at Blackburn and Newcastle have taken Odemwingie to four league goals for the season, while Long has five to his name.

Billy Jones made his first start against City and looks set to keep his place at right back, as Steven Reid is still doubtful following his injury against Newcastle.

“We want to get a positive result against Everton. Obviously they’re a good, proven Premier League team and it’s going to be another really hard game,” said Jones to West Brom’s club website.

“We’ll go into the game organised and knowing exactly how they play, their strengths and weaknesses and the individual players we’ll be up against.”

“We’ll work hard this week on them and hopefully get another good result.”