Mirallas penalty madness leaves Martinez looking rocky

The Belgian took the ball from Leighton Baines and promptly missed from 12 yards as Everton failed to find a way past West Brom

Jan 19, 2015 6:16:00 PM

LIVERPOOL — Everton's home has long been touted as one of the most atmospheric in the Premier League, so when the loudest cheer of a game is reserved for the filming of a Hollywood blockbuster at halftime, it is clear something is not quite right at Goodison Park.

The appearance of Sylvester Stallone on the big screen and the crowd being whipped into a frenzy so they could be used in a scene for the latest instalment of the 'Rocky' franchise could not inspire Roberto Martinez's side, and those questioning his suitability to manage a team with Champions League aspirations will only grow in number following another drab performance.

Though Everton dominated West Brom for almost the entirety of the 90 minutes on Monday, its inability to even muster a shot on target from inside the box tells its own story. The attacking vibrancy that won the Toffees so many new fans last season has gone from their game, replaced by methodical passing that leads to very little against disciplined outfits such as the Baggies.

Credit must be given to Tony Pulis and his side, with the former Crystal Palace manager's brave decision to deploy Saido Berahino in a wide role to inhibit the Everton full backs working a treat, while Claudio Yacob was excellent in front of the back four.



But this is an Everton side that forked out 36 million euros on Romelu Lukaku during the summer and has been heralded for having some of the most talented young players in the Premier League. The home side should have had more than enough to break down what has been a relatively leaky defense so far this campaign.

This was Everton's chance to put right some of the wrongs that have befallen the team since the last time Pulis was in town. On April 16, Martinez's side was fifth in the table – one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal with a game in hand. The Toffees had just outclassed the Gunners, and a home match against an already-safe Palace should have been the next step towards them joining Europe's elite.

Instead, Pulis' side contained the hosts for long periods before hitting them on the counterattack to devastating effect in a 3-2 victory. Since that day, Everton has won just seven of its 26 Premier League matches.

This was an opportunity to build towards an improved second half of the campaign, but now Everton is without a win in eight matches and staring a relegation battle in the face. The Europa League may offer some solace, but the team's domestic showings are causing massive concerns.

Martinez must bear the brunt of the criticism, with the former Wigan boss going from tactical genius to one of the favorites for the sack in the space of just over six months.