WBA 0 Everton 1:DAVID MOYES will again be looking on with envy during the January sales so the impact of Victor Anichebe was as timely as it was crucial for the Everton manager yesterday.

Moyes can again expect to be restricted in the transfer market due to tight purse strings, so the return of Anichebe after four months’ absence with a serious groin injury will at least provide the Scot with some optimism.

Anichebe, a Nigeria international, will wave goodbye to 2011 without a moment’s hesitation and the portents are promising for the forward after his late goal settled a moribund encounter. The 23-year-old was making only his third appearance of the season but he pounced late on to condemn Roy Hodgson to his sixth home defeat of the season, providing the West Bromwich Albion manager with a harsh reminder that he may still have a relegation battle on his hands.

For Everton, however, the prospect of yet another strong second half to a season looks promising, especially if Anichebe can steer clear of the injuries that have held him back in his six seasons at Goodison Park. “Victor has had no games [before this comeback] and I’ve not even been able to play him in the reserves, but he’s someone we’ve missed,” Moyes said.

It was Anichebe’s first league goal since March 2010 but striking instincts appear to be deserting Hodgson’s players at The Hawthorns.

Albion are the lowest scorers at home in the division with only seven goals, and they never looked like adding to that tally in this soporific encounter.

The first half was dreadful. Ben Foster, the Albion goalkeeper, almost shattered the tedium when he spilled a hooked cross by Louis Saha but then recovered impressively to repel Jack Rodwell’s effort from close range.

The second period was only marginally better. Peter Odemwingie slashed a shot wildly over the bar just a minute in, and Chris Brunt and Paul Scharner both tried to test Tim Howard from distance.

Everton made three substitutions in a bid to regain superiority and one of them, Magaye Gueye, forced a save from Foster with a powerfully struck volley.

But Anichebe punished dithering defending from Scharner three minutes from time to earn Everton a fourth away win of the season.