It could be argued that Everton entered the weekend with their strongest squad to date to face Fulham at Craven Cottage. Despite a glaring Jack Grealish-shaped hole, every other first-team member was available at David Moyes’s disposal, including new addition Tyrique George. Moyes, who was forced into the stands following his celebration last week, named Vitaliy Mykolenko back in his starting eleven. Jarrad Branthwaite, on the bench, was being carefully managed after his return from a long-term injury. George was named on the bench, as Dwight McNeil was left out of the squad following the collapse of his move to Crystal Palace on deadline day.
Both sides sat next to one another in the table, separated only by goals scored (Fulham having more). Everton nearly added to their tally inside the first ten minutes following a James Garner corner. His delivery was met at the back post by Jake O’Brien, who was only able to direct it towards the woodwork. However, Fulham took control of proceedings and it was Everton who were under pressure.
The home side took advantage. Samuel Chukwueze received the ball on the left and lofted it towards former blue Alex Iwobi. His penetrating runs have caused issues for opposition sides this season, and although Michael Keane smothered him, the ball popped out to Ryan Sessegnon, who managed to poke it towards Raul Jimenez, yards from goal. Jordan Pickford denied the Mexican, but the ball bounced into the net off Mykolenko, who was unfortunate to mark his return with an own goal.
Fulham pressed hard to find another, and Chukwueze nearly did, only for Pickford to produce another excellent save at his near post. Moments later, Emile Smith Rowe struck the bar after a curling effort from the edge of the box. Everton were seriously under the cosh and in danger of letting the match slip away. Again, only minutes passed before another chance for the men in white to double their advantage. This time it was Everton’s own doing, as James Tarkowski’s limp pass towards O’Brien was intercepted on Everton’s right-hand side. The ball slid across from Chukwueze, Smith Rowe and towards Jimenez, who opted to shoot on the swivel instead of finding Everton’s January target Harry Wilson by his side. This was a glaring opportunity, and a real let-off for Moyes’s men.
Just after the 30-minute mark, Everton created their first decent opening since hitting the post. Illiman Ndiaye managed to cross the ball from the left and found his opposite winger, Harrison Armstrong. The youngster, who was preferred to Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George despite being predominantly a central midfielder, took the ball on his chest and fired an effort on the bounce that whizzed past the far post. There was just enough time in the half for the dominant side to threaten Pickford’s goal once more and, although speculative, it nearly produced one of the goals of the season. Fulham’s corner was headed out only as far as Chukwueze, who was having a storming 45 minutes, and struck the ball with real venom, clipping the bar. Everton entered the break thankful to be only a single goal down.
The eleven players that began in blue all emerged from the tunnel, as Moyes opted to send them back out to rectify their wrongs from the previous half. It worked. Everton began taking a foothold in proceedings, much more effective in the press.
On the hour, Fulham did have another chance to make it two, only for Mykolenko to slide in before Jimenez at the back post after the lively Nigerian winger, Chukwueze, slid the ball across goal from the left. This was to be their final meaningful opportunity, and they were left to rue their failings in front of goal.
New man Tyrique George entered the fray and, in the 76th minute, slid the ball forward towards Mykolenko, who had taken an aggressive position looking to find an equaliser. The Ukrainian was initially directed away from danger, only to spin on his first touch, easing away from Joachim Andersen. He entered the box and found Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who directed his effort beyond Bernt Leno and into the net. The English midfielder had netted once again in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has recently turned into a lucky mascot for the Toffees.
There were no drawn-out celebrations, as Everton hunted for another. They wouldn’t need to wait long. Dewsbury-Hall stood by the corner flag, waiting to deliver a ball towards the box. After refusing the offer of a short delivery to Ndiaye, he whipped the cross towards Leno, who was occupied by O’Brien, and the German’s flimsy punch sent the ball into his own net. The Fulham goalkeeper, who had ranked Pickford as the 20th best man between the sticks (out of 10, as part of a ‘blind-ranking’ game), had scored his second for Everton, having done so for Arsenal previously. This time, there was no rush to return to their half as they celebrated in front of another delirious away support.
The Toffees managed the rest of the match expertly and came away from the capital with all three points. At half-time, this result looked far from possible, but yet again, the squad showed resilience, ensuring that they have plenty to play for until May.
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