Campbell leaves impotent Albion on the brink

West Bromwich Albion 1 Everton

West Bromwich's Premiership survival may continue to hang by the merest statistical thread but the truth is that they are dead in the water, simply awaiting the final rites after just one season in the big time. Their incredible supporters, long since in denial, awarded their heroes a standing ovation at the end of this, the team's seventh straight defeat.

Everton, like the other eight sides who have left the Hawthorns in possession of maximum points, knew that one goal would be enough or, if Albion managed to score, two would suffice. So it proved, and this victory kept the Mersey team motoring along in pursuit of their twin ambitions – to win a place in European competition next season and to finish above Liverpool in the table.

It was a scuffling affair, with West Brom just not sharp or smart enough to prise open a defence well marshalled by David Weir and Alan Stubbs. Meanwhile, the fireworks expected from the teenager Wayne Rooney never quite materialised. He was tightly, and unceremoniously, marked, but still managed to lay on Everton's second goal and to show twice in the second half how dangerous he can prove if given the whiff of an opening.

Though Everton's all-black strip struck a funereal note, it was Russell Hoult who should have been draped in sombre colours. Both Everton goals could be traced to his lack of command in the air. His manager, Gary Megson, called them "clangers", but tempered his criticism by pointing out they were Hoult's first such mistakes in almost two seasons.

Orchestrated as loudly as ever from the sidelines by Megson, West Brom attacked with zeal and were eventually rewarded with a goal in the 18th minute. It came from a penalty, the first one they have been awarded all season, when Stubbs was adjudged by referee Steve Bennett to have handled while trying to hold off Daniele Dichio.

Everton manager David Moyes was so incensed by the decision that he was eventually dismissed from the touchline by Mr Bennett for what the official termed "foul and abusive language and improper behaviour". It was left to his assistant, Alan Irvine, to assert Everton's subsequent argument that Stubbs had been pushed on to the ball by the striker. Igor Balis strode up to slide the kick low to Richard Wright's left.

The lead lasted five minutes. Hoult failed to cut out Mark Pembridge's cornerand Weir headed home, flattening his team-mate Kevin Campbell in the process. When he recovered, Campbell had a header ruled out for offside. Then, in the dying seconds of the opening half, a Joseph Yobo cross eluded Hoult's grasp, Rooney somehow rescued it from going out and rolled the ball into the path of Campbell who tapped in.

The second half was notable only for Rooney's sporadic eruptions, one of which brought a booking for kicking the ball away and two others which carried him clear of the opposition, first to strike the side netting and then to demand a fine save of Hoult.

Afterwards Megson conceded that the "step-up in class" for his team this season had been too much for players who were "of First Division class".

West Bromwich Albion 1
Balis pen 18

Everton 2
Weir 23, Campbell 45

Half-time: 1-2 Attendance: 27,039