Fulham 1 – 2 Everton
A trip to the banks of the River Thames and Marco Sliva’s Fulham side at Craven Cottage saw a fantastic comeback by the Blues this afternoon. After going behind in the first half, Dewsbury-Hall got the Blues level before his fantastic corner near the end saw Leno punch the ball off Jake O’Brien’s head into his own net.
The pre-match question was: What line-up will Moyes go for now he has almost a full squad — and the addition of exciting youngster Tyrique George on loan?
But of course Moyes, ever cautious, stuck that young talent on the bench, alongside Tyler Dibling, to whom Moyes has issued his strongest verbal challenge yet. Jarrad Branthwaite is also there, Moyes sticking with experience over skill and speed, as Mykolenko gets to start ahead of him.
No room for Dwight McNeil or Seamus Coleman anywhere in the squad. Former Blue Iwobi starts for Fulham but Antonee Robinson is only on the bench.
First Half
The Blues, all in blue, kicked off and Ndiaye quickly got in behind but his cross was intercepted. From a long O’Brien throw-in, a deep cross did not reach Armstrong on the far post. Fulham’s response ended with an offside flag.
Gana was barged over as he waited for a high ball to drop but Everton wasted the free-kick. The ball was worked well down the left but Armstrong played the wrong ball. He got a chance to make amends with an easy through ball or a shot but messed that up as well. However, Chukwueze fouled him wide left.
Garner went for goal and Leno was alert to tip it over. The corner was better, to the far post where O’Brien got slightly under it, hitting the other post! Coulda scored!!!
Everton were winning the ball back well but wasting possession with long balls that Barry had no idea how to win. A good Fulham cross forced Pickford to come out and punch the ball behind. Fulham came close from the corner, O’Brien heading off the line. Everton defended the next corner but could not break out and Mykolenko fouled his man.
The free-kick from Harry Wilson was headed away by Tarkowski, with a foul called against Fulham. It had been a much more lively front-foot start from the Blues but 15 minutes gone and nothing to show.
Instead, it was Fulham who mounted a stronger attack, O’Brien having to make a crucial clearance. But the next attack was defended chaotically and Sessegnon’s shot saved by Picford but coming back off Mykolenko for an own-goal. Bummer! Gana booked for an excessively dangerous tackle on Smith-Rowe in the build-up.
A flowing Fulham should have brought a second as they surged down the Everton right but for a brilliant save by Pickford from Chukwueze’s first-time strike.
Armstrong battled with Castagne, winning another free kick on the left, but Dewsbury-Hall could only put it into Leno’s hands and Fulham galloped away, winning another corner. They kept up the pressure, Everton unable to clear, Ndiaye easily robbed, Smith Rowe striking one first time that smacked off the bar above Pickford.
When Everton did finally regain possession, the choice was to work it back to Pickford from an advanced midfield position before the inevitable turnover saw Fulham attacking again.
Dewsbury-Hall played a good ball forward or Barry to work with but he was just a fraction too slow to get his shot off and it was blocked behind for a corner. That came out to Dewsbury-Hall who drove it wide.
From the Fulham goal-kick, they were quickly into the Everton area, Smith Rowe forcing the ball in to Jimenez, who had the easiest of chances but he too drove the ball wide with the goal gaping.
Ndiaye and Armstrong swapped sides and that saw an Ndiaye cross parried to Armstrong who looked to volley into the far side of the goal but it flew wide of the angle by a foot.
Everton looked to advance again but ended in a game of head tennis, but the Blues pushed up again to win a corner. That was partially cleared and there was some good football shown in working the ball around to try and create an opening but it would not come.
Still, they got a free-kick, Dewsbury-Hall curling it in a little too much and Fulham looked to break through Smith Rowe, Garner stopping him illegally.
More open play from Fulham saw the ball fall to Wilson but he skewed the ball wide when it looked easier to keep it on target.
Dewsbury-Hall put in a brilliant square ball at pace but Barry, again a fraction slow to see it and react on the stretch, slid his foot beneath the ball as it came across him and the chance evaporated.
Another excellent Fulham move saw Chukwueze play in Smith Rowe behind and it needed an excellent stop from Pickford. From the corner, it came out to Chukwueze who lashed a beautiful rising shot that clipped the top of the bar!
A very entertaining first half for any neutrals watching but there should be a huge inquest in the Everton dressing room — the home side could easily be 4-0 up… maybe 4-2 given the efforts from O’Brien and Armstrong.
Second Half
Fulham restarted but Gana was too quick with a great cross that Barry had no idea was coming. It ended in a throw that O’Brien put in long, Barry with the bizarre clearing header, away from goal!
Everton kept the ball up, Dewsbury-Hall playing a brilliant cross in to the feet of Keane, who should have smashed it in but mishit it to Barry who then put it behind.
Dewsbury-Hall drove down the left again but hung his cross up over Barry and into the arms of Leno. Everton put in a few more crosses but could make nothing of them, although winning a corner, and a superb delivery that Barry awkwardly headed wide — surely he could have got it on target?
A Garner free-kick from half-way did not produce anything. Ndiaye played in a great ball to Barry but he stumbled and bumbled and fell on the ball. Just hopeless!
James Garner lost the ball and chased after Smith Rowe, taking it back off him but was adjudged to be from behind: yellow card. That set up Fulham for their first attacking play since the break. But Everton countered, the ball again not running for Barry and it all breaking down again.
Fulham put together a quick moved that was again worthy of a goal, Chukwueze getting behind the line and putting in a great cross for Jiminez but Mykolenko just got his foot onto it, a remarkable deflected block.
Everton looked to surge forward again…
The high press by the Blues won the ball again but the cross from Mykolenko was too high for Barry and into Leno’s hands. Jiminez was chopped down by Mkolenko for another yellow card.
Cuenca cynically ran into Barry off the ball to block his run: yellow card. A great ball in from Garner caused havoc for both sides, Everton getting the corner, but Cuenca going down with a head injury and needing treatment while the Blues made two changes with 20 minutes left.
The Blues attacked again, Ndiaye crossing in but not accurate enough. Fulham looked to break but Tarkowski pulled back Jiminez. Fulham made their subs but Everton broke forward. Mykolenko getting into space and cutting it back perfectly for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to slot it home.
Parity achieved, Fulham finally got forward in the second half, and won a corner, Iwobi’s outswinger cleared by Garner. Garner then released Beto down the right and he ran in on goal but Leno was out quickly.
George tried a nice one-two but fired his shot over. Then Dewsbury-Hall lashed in a cross that was touched behind for a corner, and a tremendous delivery from Dewsbury-Hall was headed in by Jake O’Brien, blocking in front of Leno. The VAR did their best to discredit the effort but eventually gave up and the game restarted with Everton finally leading, the go-ahead goal credited to Leno’s gloved fist.
Fulham attacked again but they could only see the ball headed behind over Pickford’s goal. Kevin got ahead of O’Brien who was guilty of catching him: yellow card.But the Fulham free-kick wide right evaded everyone, Muniz fouling Gana.
Fulham pressed high into the final 7 added minutes, desperate to get back into the game. Berge drove his shot wide from 25 yards. A very late sub, Iroegbunam for Dewsbury-Hall, slowed Fulham down. But the pressure on the Everton goal resumed for the final minutes, Pickford booked for ball juggling ahead of a final goal-kick before the Blues could celebrate a fine away win.
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca [Y:67]; Iwobi, Chukwueze (75′ Rodrigo Muniz), Berge; Sessegnon, Wilson, Smith Rowe; Jimenez (75′ Kevin).
Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Bassey, Reed, Bobb, King, Robinson.
Everton: Pickford [Y:90+7′]; Mykolenko [Y:65′] (85′ Branthwaite), Keane, Tarkowski, O’Brien [Y:88′]; Garner [Y:56′], Gueye [Y:18′]; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall (90+5′ Iroegbunam), Armstrong (69′ George); Barry (69′ Beto).
Subs: Travers, Patterson, Dibling, Alcaraz, Röhl.