Everton failed to move into fourth place on the English Premier League table after playing to a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Monday night.
The Toffees, who were without South African Steven Pienaar on the night, could only manage a share of the spoils which sees them in sixth place on the table with 42 points, a point behind both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool above them on the log.
The first 45 minutes was an evenly contested affair as neither side took the ascendancy and both teams had their fair share of the ball.
Everton created the first decent chance on goal in the 11th minute as Romelu Lukaka broke down the left flank and delivered a ball into the box which was met by Brian Oviedo, but he fired wide from 16-yards out.
Two minutes later and West Brom created their first opening on goal as Nicolas Anelka picked up the ball on the left, cut inside and fired a powerful shot inches wide from 20-yards out.
In the 29th minute Tim Howard had to be alert as Zoltan Gera was put through on goal by Anelka, but the Everton keeper beat his shot from just outside the box away from goal.
As the half drew to a close Everton saw more of the ball and were reward for their late first half pressure with a goal in the 41st minute.
A long ball from the back was flicked on by Lukaka into the path of Kevin Mirallas who took the ball in his stride and passed it into the back of the net from 14-yards out, 1-0.
The start of the second 45 saw West Brom with more of the possession, but they struggled to break down a resilient Everton defence.
The first real chance on goal in the second half only came in the 72nd minute and went the way of Everton as Mirallas flashed a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, however, and West Brom did find an equaliser when Diego Lugana snuck in at the front post to powerfully head home a right wing cross from James Morrison, 1-1.
West Brom continued to pile on the pressure in the final 15 minutes, but they could not find the winner as the points were shared.
