Everton scrap for point...now for the appeal
ON an evening when Sean Dyche celebrated a year in the job, Everton delivered a performance that typified their manager.
They were given an almighty test by Marco Silva’s side, who threw everything they could at them. But, not for the first time this season, Everton’s players stood strong in the face of adversity at the start of a week which could prove to be crucial for the club’s future.
The three-day appeal hearing against their 10-point deduction begins tomorrow. Whatever the outcome — which we won’t know until mid-February — Everton’s fans can sleep easy in the knowledge this group of players will scrap not just for every point but every kick in the meantime.
Craven Cottage has proven a difficult assignment for away teams this season — all but one of Fulham’s seven league wins have come on home soil — but Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the red carpet rolled out by Issa Diop in the opening minutes. He allowed the Everton forward to bring the ball down inside Fulham’s box, where he laid the ball off to Jack Harrison who curled narrowly wide.
Jordan Pickford made a comfortable first stop of the night from Antonee Robinson but the Everton keepeer should have been tested again moments later when James Garner’s sliding clearance played in Raul Jimenez down the left. Bobby De Cordova-Reid was screaming for the ball at the far post but Jimenez crossed high and wide of the Jamaican.
Dwight McNeil hardly put a foot wrong in Everton’s midfield. On the one occasion he did, his poor touch almost allowed substitute Rodrigo Muniz the chance to break the deadlock. Pickford was out quickly to narrow the angle and block the Brazilian’s effort.
Calvert-Lewin was then inches away from ending his 15-game goal drought but saw his header from a Garner corner graze the bar before seeing another headed effort loop just over moments later. The visitors’ ambition was admirable but they rode their luck at times, especially as legs grew weary.
De Cordova-Reid nicked the ball from Branthwaite and should have picked out Willian at the far post. Instead he delayed, allowing Ben Godfrey to recover and sweep the ball clear.
Branthwaite almost allowed Muniz to capitalise but James Tarkowski got around to block before Castagne’s clever, glancing header from a Pereira corner struck the bar. Fulham weren’t done there as Willian’s cross picked out Diop, whose thunderous header was denied by Pickford, who flew to his left.
Everton substitute Beto should have won it in the dying stages but headed agonisingly over before Fulham survived an even later scare as Leno finally managed to grasp hold of the ball after some pinball in the box where both Godfrey and Beto took aim.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Castagne 7, Tosin 7, Diop 6 (Ream 75min), ROBINSON 7.5; Palhinha 7, Cairney 6; De Cordova-Reid 5.5, Pereira 5.5, Willian 6; Jimenez 4.5 (Muniz 46, 6.5). Booked: Palhinha 26. Manager: Marco Silva 7.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Pickford 7; Godfrey 6, Tarkowski 6.5, Branthwaite 5.5, Mykolenko 6; Young 5.5 (Patterson 81), Garner 6, McNeil 7, Danjuma 6 (Dobbin 90); Harrison 6; Calvert-Lewin 6.5 (Beto 81). Booked: Godfrey, Branthwaite. Manager: Sean Dyche 7.5. Referee: Thomas Bramall 4. Attendance: 24,376.