Albion 1 Everton 0

Albion signed off at the Hawthorns with a hard-earned victory over in-form Everton.

Baggies Player of the Year front-runner Youssouf Mulumbu proved the match-winner with a 10th minute goal set up by Peter Odemwingie, with Albion claiming their first clean sheet in 35 games.

A frustrated Everton saw plenty of the ball but found a Baggies defence stiffened by the return of key figures too tough a nut to crack.

And their cause was lost in the 76th minute when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was sent off five minutes after replacing captain Phil Neville, for a late challenge on Albion substitute James Morrison.

The Baggies had plenty of opportunities to add to their lead and Odemwingie, in particular, will wonder how he did not add to his 15-goal tally for the season.

But Albion were worthy winners in the finish and able to bask in a standing ovation from the Hawthorns fans, who stayed to salute a well-deserved lap of honour.

Roy Hodgson's side looked much happier for the return of Chris Brunt, Steve Reid and Paul Scharner, all of whom missed the derby defeat at Wolves.

Odemwingie had already shot wide from a Mulumbu pass in the seventh minute, before sprinting away again to collect Brunt's clever chip over the top three minutes later.

The Nigerian international had the strength to hold off Sylvain Distin, before pulling the ball back for Mulumbu to strike the ball into the back of the net.

Everton were twice denied an equaliser, first when goalkeeper Scott Carson's outstretched foot deflected a Victor Anichebe drive away, after Jonas Olsson had slipped and then when John Heitinga headed wide from a Seamus Coleman cross.

But Albion were proving a very different team at set pieces than the previous week, with Scharner's presence particularly welcome, and should have been home and hosed by the break.

Odemwingie was twice denied by last-ditch defending , first from Tony Hibbert and then goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The first-half closed with Carson making another fine stop to defy Anichebe but, while Everton had plenty of possession, after the break they could not get through to the Albion goalkeeper.

It was Albion's breakaway raids which looked more threatening.

Simon Cox was inches away from a point-blank finish after Odemwingie had squared the ball across goal and the top scorer then cleverly picked out a blind-side run by Scharner, whose header was inches wide.

Ironically, Everton's best chance of the second half fell immediately to Bilyaletdinov, who wasted a Hibbert cross with a poor finish just a minute before his red card.