PREMIER LEAGUE: Gareth McAuley goal not enough for West Brom in loss against Everton

Ronald Koeman got his first Premier League victory as Everton manager as West Brom lost 2-1 at The Hawthorns in front of new owner Guochuan Lai.

Lai, who heads the Chinese investment group which at the beginning of this month completed its takeover of the club, saw his team make the perfect start to their home campaign as Gareth McAuley headed Albion into an early lead.

However, goals from Kevin Mirallas and Gareth Barry either side of half-time saw Koeman claim his first three-point haul as Toffees boss after drawing 1-1 at home to Tottenham on the opening day.

West Brom’s opening goal came after eight minutes following some good forward play from Salomon Rondon. The Venezuela international used his strength to hold off Ramiro Funes Mori and control Craig Gardner’s long ball into the box before getting off a shot that Maarten Stekelenburg did well to come out and block.

From the resulting corner, an inswinger from Gardner, McAuley jumped highest between Mirallas and Phil Jagielka to head home at the far post from two yards out.