Maja impact has Fulham believing in a great escape
EVERTON 0 FULHAM 2
JOSH MAJA could be the man to give Fulham a fighting chance of beating the drop.
This was certainly a performance that may inspire Scott Parker’s side to pull off a great escape.
Maja’s double was enough to earn a deserved three points last night.
Two goals from the January loan signing from Bordeaux on his first start for the club suggests he is what the Cottagers have been missing all season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19. But the fact he has not scored for Fulham since September is one reason why they came into this game 10 points from safety. That gap is now a little smaller, which gives Parker’s side hope after they earned their first league victory at Goodison Park.
More importantly, it was their third win of this campaign after 23 games.
Having drawn nine so far, clinical forward play from Maja could turn more of those into vital victories. They certainly need it. Maja was helped by some other standout performances, too.
Notably from former Toffee Ademola Lookman and midfielder Harrison Reed, but there were many impressive displays from those in white shirts.
Not from those in blue, though, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered a big blow to their hopes of qualifying for Europe. Without the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin in attack, they lacked a threat.
Fulham got the goal their display deserved just after the restart, as Ola Aina played a one-two with Lookman before a brilliant ball across the area set up Maja to tap home his first for the club.
The Toffees were so poor that when Fulham doubled their advantage with 25 minutes to go, it looked game over.
Reed forced Robin Olsen to tip a shot from distance on to the post and Maja was alert to tap home.
EVERTON (4-3-3): Olsen 6; Coleman 5 (Keane 56, 6), Holgate 5, Godfrey 6, Digne 6; Doucoure 6, Davies 6 (King 56, 6), Gomes 6; Rodriguez 6 (Bernard 68, 6), Sigurdsson 6, Richarlison 5. FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola 6; Tete 6, Andersen 7, Adarabioyo 7, Aina 7; Reed 8, Lemina 8 (Onomah 90); Loftus-Cheek 7, Decordova-Reid 7, Lookman 8 (Zambo Anguissa 83); Maja 8 (Cavaleiro 72). Goals: Maja 48, 65.