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West Brom will look to carry on from where they left off against Manchester City last week when they play hosts to Everton at the Hawthorns on New Year’s Day.
The Baggies are fresh off their best result of the season so far after becoming the first team to stop Manchester City scoring all season, and now they’ll look to continue their push up the league with three points against Everton.
Roy Hodgson, who took over West Brom after being sacked by Liverpool earlier in the year, has turned things around at the Hawthorns and looks to have been rewarded with the offer of a new contract, and will hope to celebrate that good news with three points against an Everton side that have their own ambitions of climbing the league table.
The Toffees now sit in tenth place after recovering from their traditional slow start to the season, but would have slightly disappointed to have only taken a point away against Sunderland on Boxing Day.
That result means that Everton have now won four, drawn two and lost one of their last seven games, a decent return that boss David Moyes will be hoping to build upon against West Brom.
One cause for concern for Moyes is the form of Tim Cahill, who is on the verge of ending 2011 without scoring a single goal.
The Australian is usually an excellent source of goals for the Toffees, perhaps one of the reasons they have only mustered 18 goals in their 17 games so far this season.
Everton may have to go into the game without their main midfield enforcer, Marouane Fellaini, with the Moroccan still struggling with an abductor strain.
There was some good news for Moyes after Jack Rodwell moved closer to full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury, and the England international could be fit to start on New Year’s Day.
Landon Donovan, who has agreed to join Everton on loan from LA Galaxy once more, is ineligible for the game.
For West Brom, Youssouf Mulumbu faces a late fitness test ahead of the game as he continues to struggle with a groin problem he picked up against Manchester City.
Steven Reid will miss the game having been forced to sit out of the game with City, with Billy Jones set to deputise for him once more.
Match Winner
With both sides showing ambitions of climbing the table and towards the top eight, the bookmakers are expecting an extremely tight encounter.
West Brom just edge the betting and are placed at 2.68 (13/8) with BetFred, while the visitors are trailing just behind at 15/8 with VC Bet to pick up all three points.
The draw is 3.30 (23/10), also with VC Bet.
First Goalscorer
With West Brom looking particularly strong in attack at the moment, it comes as no suprise as one of Roy Hodgson’s men heading the first goalscorer market.
Peter Odemwingie looks to have found his form after a slow star and is favourite to score first at 7.00 (6/1) with Bet365, while the always dangerous Shane Long is 8.00 (7/1) with VC Bet.
Louis Saha will want to get back in the goals sooner rather than later, and the Frenchman is priced the same as Long with the same bookmamker.
Recommended Bets
First Goalscorer: Shane Long, 8.00 (7/1) VC Bet
Correct scored: 2-2 draw, 17.00 (16/1) Ladbrokes
First Goalscorer
Recommended Bets
