Premier League: West Brom 0 Everton 1

Everton collected their 1,000th Premier League point after Victor Anichebe came off the bench late on to snatch a 1-0 win against West Brom.

In a game of few opportunities, Louis Saha scuffed wide for the visitors and Peter Odemwingie blazed over when through on goal as two of the lowest scoring sides in the league struggled to muster many chances of note.

But Anichebe popped up in the area after Paul Scharner had accidentally headed Tony Hibbert’s far-post cross back towards his own goal, and the striker buried his shot past Ben Foster to seal the win which sees Everton go above West Brom in the table.

The first chance came after 20 minutes when Shane Long peeled off at the back post to meet Chris Brunt’s teasing cross but he headed over when well placed to test Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

The visitors were being patient in possession but were almost gifted the lead when Foster made a hash of trying to punch Saha’s hooked cross in the area but he recovered well to block Rodwell’s follow-up.

Everton were being awarded plenty of free-kicks by referee Stuart Atwell and from identical positions on the left they had chances with Saha scuffing wide when well placed inside the area.

Phil Jagielka also chipped over from the right after the initial Leighton Baines delivery into the area was not cleared.

The Everton left-back was by far his team’s most creative outlet and from another excellent cross on the right Jack Rodwell flicked a header wide as Everton – who have the worst first-half record in the league – ended the opening period strongly.

The second 45 minutes followed a similar pattern but West Brom managed to get on the front foot and should have taken the lead right at the start but Odemwingie could only hit his shot over the bar.

David Moyes responded by bringing on Magaye Gueye for Rodwell and the youngster responded by immediately trying a shot from a similar distance but his went wide of the right-hand post.

The Scot followed that up with a double substitution which saw Anichebe and Denis Stracqualursi replace Phil Neville and Saha.

With the game seemingly drifting towards a draw, Everton struck late through Anichebe after Scharner headed Hibbert’s cross back across goal for the striker to finish past Foster with several defenders attempting to block his shot.

Four minutes of added time were soon given but it was too late for West Brom who were consigned to yet another home defeat having won just twice at the Hawthorns all season.