Everton 1-3 Fulham
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park

AN AIR of resignation hung around Goodison Park as Everton lost what was seen as a winnable game in their battle for Premier League survival.

Home fans had already begun to file out well before the final whistle when it looked more likely Fulham would score a fourth than their team get back into it.

A fourth official indicating a minimum of six minutes’ added time might normally provide hope for the team trailing and produce a loud roar from the stands, but there was no such hope for Everton on this occasion.

Believe it or not, there was a period in this game where Sean Dyche’s side looked like the better team, and even showed promise that they would go on to win the game.

Having gone behind to a Harrison Reed goal, Dyche wasted no time changing things up. Rather than wait until half-time, he gave the instruction to his players to switch from the 4-4-2 formation in which they had started the game, to a 4-3-3.

The Toffees immediately looked more involved, though Dwight McNeil’s equaliser still came out of the blue. James Garner picked up a loose ball in midfield and immediately fed a short pass to McNeil who turned, ran at the defence, and found the bottom corner with a shot. It was a quick move that quickly changed the dynamic of the game.

Everton were on top for the remaining 10 minutes or so of that half and Neil Maupay was unlucky not to give his side the lead following a neat one-two with McNeil.

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno got just enough on the resulting shot which came to rest just ahead of the goal line before being cleared.

Maupay has never been a prolific goalscorer but is now required to be one in difficult circumstances. This situation appears as frustrating for the player as it does for the fans.

Fulham’s second goal, scored by Wilson six minutes into the second half, really took the wind out of Everton’s sails. When Daniel James added a third it consigned the home side to defeat, even with almost half an hour left including that added time.

A smattering of boos greeted the final whistle but by that time, Goodison was half empty. Many no doubt preferred to take their chances on the Grand National rather than bet on this Everton team mounting a comeback.