A second half hat-trick from Yakubu earned Everton all three points at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
Starting Line Ups
Everton
Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo, Joleon Lescott, Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Phil Neville (c), Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Lee Carsley
Subs: Andy Johnson, James McFadden, Phil Jagielka, Victor Anichebe, Stefan Wessels
Fulham
Antti Niemi, Paul Konchesky, Dejan Stefanovic, Steven Davis, Diomansy Kamara, Shefki Kuqi, Aaron Hughes (c), Elliot Omozusi, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy
Subs: Carlos Bocanegra, Seol Ki-Hyeon, David Healy, Tony Warner, Chris Baird
First Half Action
Fulham got the match underway at Goodison Park on a cold, wet afternoon in Merseyside. The Whites certainly warmed proceedings up in the opening exchanges, attacking Everton with real purpose. Sanchez’ side earned two corners in the opening minutes and Kamara almost broke the deadlock from the first set piece. Davies’ in-swinging corner from the left found the head of Kamara at the near post but his glancing header flew wide of the Howard’s goal.
4 min Joleon Lescott earned Everton’s first opportunity on goal but once again, Antti Niemi continued his recent fine form, producing an outstanding save from Lescott’s strike from 8 yards.
6 min A pre-match downpour certainly made conditions underfoot taxing for both sides. Shefki Kuqi’s over zealous challenge on Neville sent him sliding a good 15 yards into the dug out. Referee Steve Bennett did not reach for his pocket but Kamara was less fortunate when he was cautioned for impeding an Everton free kick a few minutes later.
14 min Both sides were approaching the game in a positive, attacking manner and Niemi needed to be alert once again to save from Arteta’s 30 yard free-kick. Clipping Davies on the way through, Arteta’s set piece dipped dangerously but Niemi produced a fine fingertip save.
20 min A dangerous Everton attack down the left flank was suddenly brought to a halt when Baines pulled up with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring. Moyes was forced to replace the defender immediately, introducing Phil Jagielka.
26 min A tidy spell of possession from Fulham caused a moment of panic in Everton’s area. Murphy, Davis and Kamara linked up well down the right to force a free kick on the touchline. The set piece rattled around Everton’s area but Fulham could not find a final flourish to their attacking play.
31 min Fulham created two good opportunities in the space of a minute. Simon Davies strike from the edge of the box was sent high over the bar from a fine defensive intervention. From the resulting corner Murphy fired in a volley from the edge of the area but the shot lacked the direction to test Tim Howard.
35 min Sanchez’ side were certainly enjoying their fare share of possession, winning the midfield battle in the first period but lacked any real cutting edge in the final third. Fulham’s best opportunities were produced down the left flank via Konchesky’s overlapping runs.
44 min No real threat from either side as half time approached. However Fulham’s endeavour frustrated the home crowd who were certainly subdued during the first half. After one minute of added time Steve Bennett blew for half time.
Second Half Action
Everton got the second half underway as the rain and swirling wind picked up inside Goodison Park. Everton attacked with a renewed sense of vigour and Lescott went close after two minutes, sending a glancing header wide of Niemi’s far post.
50 min The atmosphere inside Goodison heated up as the home side looked to take the initiative and it was Yakubu who broke the deadlock. Everton attacked with a deep ball into Fulham’s area and a Dejan Stefanovic headed clearance fell to Cahill. The midfielder’s right footed snap shot across goal was well saved by Niemi but Yakubu was alert to stab the ball home into an empty net from 8 yards out.
58 min After a sustained period of pressure from the home side following the opening goal, Fulham countered and Clint Dempsey’s 25 yard strike caused Howard enough problems to only parry the ball into Kuqi’s range 12 yards from goal. However the Finnish striker was off-balance and the opportunity passed.
62 min Yakubu made it two goals to the good for Everton when Arteta’s corner found the striker unmarked on the far post. Yakubu could not miss from two yards out and headed home into an empty net.
66 min Sanchez revised his attacking options and introduced David Healy for Clint Dempsey. A few minutes later Everton should have made it three. Yakubu broke clear of Fulham’s defence and sprinted towards Niemi’s goal. Instead of shooting the striker passed the ball across goal and the linesman flagged Arteta offside. Omozusi was booked for remonstrating with Referee Bennett, claiming Yakubu was offside from the initial break.
75 min Manager Lawrie Sanchez introduced his second substitution of the game with 15 minutes remaining, bringing on Seol Ki-Hyeon for Danny Murphy
79 min Yakubu grabbed his hatrick on 79 minutes. Collecting a ball into the area, the striker turned Stefanovic and curled his right footed shot into the far corner of the net. Two minutes later Moyes made a double subsitution, replacing Cahill and Yakubu with Johnson and McFadden respectively.
85 min Substitute McFadden almost scored with his first touch, turning a cross from the right flank left goalwards. Fortunately for Fulham, Niemi was alert to turn the ball around the near post to safety.
90 min After two minutes added time Steve Bennett called time on the game and the Whites will now look towards next weekend's home game against Newcastle after a tough week in the North-West.