The Third Man: Radzinski puts the reds on alert

Everton 1 West Bromwich Albion

It would be unfair to start calling them "Lucky Everton", but "One-nil to the Everton" is gaining in credence. For the fifth Premiership match in succession David Moyes's team won by that score yesterday and suddenly they are bearing down on the top of the table. Their supporters can barely believe their eyes.

In an almost perpetual fight against relegation over the last decade, Everton suddenly find themselves in third place this morning, and to their astonishment they are only one win behind the leaders Arsenal, having gained maximum points from their last six games. Of near equal importance, they are also creeping ever closer to Liverpool.

It was hardly a vintage performance – West Bromwich would make God's Fantasy Team labour long and hard for reward – but it was a success gilded by defeats to the top two. Their goal was solitary, as it usually is, but it was edifying too, a scorching shot into the top corner from a narrow angle by Tomasz Radzinski, his fifth of the season.

"It's OK," Moyes said, reflecting on Everton's rarified height, "but we can do better. We've played only 15 games and I'm sure you can look in the record books and tell me how many teams have been in this position and ended up at the bottom end. We're certain-ly not getting carried away."

Neither are Albion. It was their ninth League game without a win. As they carry all the threat of a pea-shooter, it is becoming clear they are unlikely to stay in the Premiership for a second season. They were lifted off the bottom by goals deluging in on West Ham but it was scant consolation. "It's frustrating," their manager Gary Megson said. "We're not getting battered, there's not a massive gap in class but we end up getting beaten."

Albion's main triumph was that they neutralised Everton completely for the first half-hour. Indeed the visitors might have taken the lead after 40 seconds. Li Tie's mistake squandered possession and Scott Dobie's quick shot almost surprised goalkeeper Richard Wright. Albion also had him scurrying across his line as Jason Roberts turned and fired over on 29 minutes.

In between Everton seemed to have altitude sickness and it summed up their play when their best chance of an undistinguished opening spell, a header by Alan Stubbs from Gary Naysmith's corner after 15 minutes, was blocked by Kevin Campbell. Goodison Park fans have been known to boo the officials for adding extra time to turgid matches in Everton's more dismal seasons, but this team are of a different ilk and when we seemed to be heading for an afternoon to forget, they struck after 34 minutes.

A splendidly crafted goal it was too, Li Tie making ground in midfield before releasing Radzinski with a lovely pass with the outside of his foot. The angle was not favourable and goalkeeper Russell Hoult had every reason to suppose the Canadian striker would shoot across him to the far post. Instead he drilled it into the top near corner.

For Albion the half-time score probably appeared an injustice but they should have righted it within six minutes of the restart. Andy Johnson, the one visiting midfielder to confront Thomas Gravesen, played a one-two with Derek McInnes and was probably as surprised as the Everton manager that he was able to usher Roberts into so much space. Roberts was faced with several choices and perhaps that was the problem. His final decision as Wright bore down on him was neither a shot nor a pass to Lee Hughes.

With that Albion's threat dissipated. But a calamity of errors involving Sean Gregan almost merited inclusion in a collection of football bloopers. A 67th-minute cross from Gravesen appeared to pose little threat until the defender miskicked spectacularly and almost put it over his keeper's shoulder. The rebound did little for Gregan's composure, his next attempt also going awry, and he was fortunate that it became a backpass to Hoult.

It was comical but West Bromwich are hardly in a position to laugh. Instead it is the Everton supporters who are giggling behind their hands.

Everton 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
Radzinski 35

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 40,113