DROP INTO DANGER
Everton keep a clean sheet but still fall into Premier League bottom three
A DRAW and clean sheet away from home is not something for Everton to turn their noses up at in normal circumstances.
Yet the point earned against a Fulham side that created plenty but lacked a ruthless finishing touch was not enough to stop Sean Dyche’s team from sliding into the relegation places.
And on the eve of their threeday appeal against the Premier League’s 10-point deduction for a breach of financial rules,
Everton may also be concerned about their own misfiring attack as Dominic Calvert-lewin extended his scoreless run to 16 appearances.
Worse, substitute Beto sent a 94th-minute header from three yards over the bar and in a late flurry of action Ben Godfrey had two goalbound attempts blocked by Everton’s replacement striker.
On a positive note, though, they were resolute and organised without the ball to leave Marco Silva’s hosts deeply frustrated. Fulham may have come into the game with two wins from their previous 10 in all competitions but the form book also pointed to a run of four victories from the preceding five home league fixtures.
And they started like a team with confidence from the latter as Raul Jimenez and Andreas Pereira tried their luck from range before Jordan Pickford did well to keep out Antonee Robinson’s stinging effort.
By that point Everton had slipped into the bottom three of a live table. And while the players were unaware of Luton’s barnstorming start against Brighton, there were at least signs of attacking intent from the visitors about 20 minutes in.
James Tarkowski came close to an opener when his left-footed attempt deflected off Issa Diop’s head, on to the bar and was eventually cleared off the line by Timothy Castagne.
Arnaut Danjuma then skied a good chance after cutting in from the left. At the other end, Pereira went close from distance and Castagne saw a deflected
shot blocked on the line by Tarkowski before Jimenez sent the rebound wide from four yards.
The Mexican striker then hobbled down the tunnel as the half-time whistle went, clutching his right hamstring, and did not re-emerge.
Still, Fulham remained the more likely to score the opener.
And with the exception of Calvert-lewin grazing the bar with a header, Everton’s good work was all defensive until the final seconds.
Godfrey made a remarkable recovery run to intercept a Bobby De Cordova-reid pass that would have allowed Willian a free sight of goal and the woodwork came to their saviour when Castagne watched a header come off the bar.
The pressure continued to ramp up as Pereira earned a corner from which Tosin forced Pickford into a wonderful right-handed save.
De Cordova-reid scuffed wide entering the final 10 minutes and Pickford gratefully smothered a poorly-directed header from Rodrigo Muniz before Beto and Godfrey’s late flurry.