West Brom 1-1 Everton - Match analysis and pictures
[gallery] If you thought the appointment was risky, wait until you see the football.
Just as he promised, new head coach Pepe Mel has switched to a front-footed pursuit of the points Albion will need to silence the alarms which brought about his appointment - and supporters should steel themselves for a white-knuckle ride to the end of the season.
Mel would have seen much to encourage him and elements to concern him before his new team claimed a result to satisfy him.
At times, The Hawthorns didn't quite know what to make of it all but ultimately gave Mel's opening hand a resounding ovation after Diego Lugano's glorious 75th minute header cancelled out Everton's first-half lead provided by Kevin Mirallas.
It was a lead that could have been greater such was the stretched nature of Albion's shape at times. But as they became the more dominant force after the break, it was also possible to see the Baggies snatching a victory.
Ultimately, a game contested at a relentless pace delivered a fair result to accompany its substantial entertainment and the home fans, who began to respond to the promised, high-tempo urgency of a reviving Albion late on, left wondering what is in store for them as this curious campaign rolls on.
They certainly never expected the line-up with which Mel would choose to make his debut. The right flank was torn asunder, Steven Reid and Zoltan Gera replacing Billy Jones and Morgan Amaltifano. No Youssouf Mulumbu and a starting spot, too, for Matej Vydra; the man from Madrid could not have picked a more orthodox and English 4-4-2.
And yes, a place for the controversy-entangled Nicolas Anelka who chose one heck of a moment to prove that he might not be the troublesome, busted flush so many had supposed up until last night.
Anelka was a primary source of lively and creative influence for Albion before giving way to Saido Berahino for the last 15 minutes, a long overdue imprint but one which may now be removed from Mel's vision by the FA's disciplinary procedures.
The wide-ranging changes were clearly the result of a coach arriving to view training with fresh eyes and no entrenched opinions of the personnel at his disposal; it also meant a welcome return for the so-far dormant James Morrison. He responded with a performance which justified his recall, nowhere more evidently than in setting up Lugano's equaliser, and promised more to come.
Most of all, however, it will be fascinating to see how Albion will develop under this new direction. Mel is still striving for a balance – "in the first half we were too open and the second half, too compact," he observed – but Hawthorns regulars will have spotted the change in onus from the outset.
Yacob, who also gave his new coach a committed and vital display, was hunting down opponents much further up the pitch as were his full backs and forwards. It gave Albion greater urgency and moments of promise but in an Everton team flush in form and chasing a Champions League spot, they discovered opponents only too able to exploit the gaps.
A lack of pace in the centre of defence deprived of the Yacob-Mulumbu comfort blanket will be Mel's most obvious concern and although it was a point driven home by Everton's 41st minute goal, that was the climax to a steady stream of difficulties for Albion.
They could be grateful their old boy Romelu Lukaku, Bryan Oviedo and James McCarthy were unable to take decent opportunities and that Chris Brunt was able to block Seamus Coleman's 23rd minute effort after an extended phase of Everton domination.
But Albion, who were fitful going forward but in Anelka always had a player capable of providing a searching through ball, were breached shortly before the interval when Lukaku out-jumped Jonas Olsson to head on Sylvain Distin's chip and Mirallas out-paced Lugano to beat Ben Foster.
But Victor Anichebe's appearance for Vydra at the start of the second-half began to give Albion a greater presence from which they turned the tide. Although near-post chances for the former Everton striker and Morrison could not be converted, and the game's only flat 15 minute period threatened to stifle the promise, the Baggies always carried the promise of a goal.
When it came, it brought redemption for Lugano, who had replaced the injured Gareth McAuley. With Everton pinned back, the Uruguayan opted to stay forward as Albion re-cycled possession down the right thanks to an uncompromising Reid challenge on the breaking Lukaku.
Amichebe held Everton at bay before slipping in Morrison for a fierce cross Lugano sent screaming past Tim Howard with an athletic and powerful header.
One late scare saw Everton deprived of a winner when Distin converted a Gareth Barry shot with the last kick of the match – but from a clearly offside position.
That would have been cruel on Albion and a new coach whose first game probably delivered everything he pledged - leaving life at The Hawthorns just that little bit more interesting and exciting as a result.
