Everton and West Bromwich Albion played out a goalless draw at Goodison Park this afternoon, leaving both sides still looking for their first win of the new Premier League season.

The hosts dominated possession in the first half but struggled to test Ben Foster, whose save from a Kevin Mirallas shot was the only really troubling moment of the half for the Baggies.

Everton continued to enjoy more possession in the second half and posed more of an attacking threat at times, with Marouane Fellaini hitting the post and Seamus Coleman hitting the bar.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at what was a frustrating afternoon for the Toffees.

Match statistics:

Everton:
Shots 22
On target 8
Possession 54%
Corners 11
Fouls 14

West Brom:
Shots 7
On target 2
Possession 46%
Corners 1
Fouls 15

Was the result fair?

On the general balance of play, no. Everton controlled the match for large periods and looked the more assured team throughout. However, the Toffees once again failed to turn that possession into chances, creating only one or two really clear sights of goal throughout the match. They deserved to win the match, but they did not do enough to win it. Everton dominated the first half and Tim Howard did not have a save to make until around the hour mark, but Ben Foster was also rarely troubled despite Everton dominance.

Everton's performance

There are certainly positives coming out of Roberto Martinez's philosophy. Everton passed the ball nicely, dominated possession and controlled the match, which is down to how Martinez has told his side how to play. However, the overriding emotion for Everton fans after today's match will be frustration. The Toffees showed a distinct lack of ambition and urgency, rarely committing lots of players forward, even at set pieces towards the end of the match. There was also a lack of probing passes in the final third as the Toffees seemed to reach a certain place on the field and then lose ideas. Fellaini had a glorious chance late on when he hit the post, but that is the only time that you could say Everton should have scored, despite all of their possession.

West Brom's performance

After last week's heartache losing to a late penalty, Steve Clarke will be happy that the curse did not strike again this time around. His side were second best for large spells of the match but they defended stoutly and started to come into it a bit more as the second half wore on. They forced a good save out of Howard but highlights in an attacking sense were few and far between for them. Clarke will instead be focusing on their defensive performance, which was disciplined, strong and effective. A draw at the Goodison is a good result for the Baggies and has the added bonus of getting them off the mark in terms of points this season.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Seamus Coleman: To be honest, there wasn't one player who stood head and shoulder above the rest this afternoon. However, Everton's best attacking displays came from their full-backs. Leighton Baines looked dangerous at times despite not reaching the same sort of form he showed last season, while Coleman was a threat all afternoon. On a number of occasions he cut inside and forced the keeper into a good save, but he was also good value when crossing the ball. He almost capped off a good performance late on when his cross drifted onto the crossbar, but in truth that was a rare bad ball into the box from the full-back, who looks to be getting better with every game.

Biggest gaffe

This one has to go to referee Roger East. Leon Osman struck a sweet volley towards goal which took a mammoth deflection off Billy Jones and went out for what should have been a corner. Either East totally missed the deflection or thought it came off an Everton man, but either way it was a poor decision as it was one of the clearest corners you will see this season.

Referee performance

Despite that gaffe, Roger East had a decent game. They say that you know when the referee has had a good game when you don't really notice him, and that was the case for much of the match. There were a few potentially difficult moments in either penalty box, but East got every major decision right.

What next?

Everton: Everton turn their attention away from the league this week as they face Stevenage in the League Cup on Wednesday.

West Brom: West Brom also take part in the League Cup second round, but their tie against Newport County will take place on Tuesday.