Everton made an ideal start to the match when, after winning possession in a dangerous area deep inside Fulham territory, the ball found Royston Drenthe some 30 yards out. The Everton winger shifted the ball onto his left foot after receiving a pass from Jack Rodwell and placed a precise finish beyond the outstretched palm of Mark Schwarzer to hand David Moyes’ men an early lead.

It was a bitter blow for the Whites to take even before the game had settled into any discernable rhythm. Everton could have doubled their lead on 11 minutes when Rodwell got his head to a teasing delivery from Leighton Baines, only to direct the ball wide from six yards out.

The Whites soon started to find their feet and with John Arne Riise delivering a number of promising balls into the area from the left, there was certainly plenty of scope to create goal scoring opportunities.

Royston Drenthe looked a constant threat for the visitors but it was Apostolos Vellios who could have doubled the Toffees’ lead on 20 minutes when he rose above Chris Baird in the area to head Tony Hibbert’s cross narrowly over the frame of the goal.

A combination of woodwork and goalkeeper then conspired to deny Danny Murphy after the Fulham Captain unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards. That opportunity was followed by a fine half-chance for Clint Dempsey, whose shot was smothered by Tim Howard before being collected at the second time of asking by the American goalkeeper.

The momentum was gradually starting to shift in Fulham’s favour and only a fingertip save from Howard prevented Brede Hangeland from getting his name on the score sheet.

Fulham got the second-half underway and showed their attacking intent from the off – with Brede Hangeland skipping past challenges and exchanging passes with teammates as he made his way into the Everton area, only to be blocked by a last ditch tackle.

Former Fulham striker Louis Saha received a warm welcome from the Craven Cottage faithful when he replaced Vellios early in the second-half. Everton certainly looked content to hold on to their one-goal advantage as they attempted to slow the pace of the game down. As a result both defences were able to organise and drastically reduce the number of goal scoring opportunities that arose.

Fulham made their first change of the match on 64 minutes with Bryan Ruiz replacing Danny Murphy. Having only been on the field for three minutes, Ruiz opened his Fulham scoring account with an audacious chipped goal. The attacker received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and calmly produced a perfectly executed lob, which sailed over Tim Howard to nestle in the back of the net.

Spurred on by a double substitution, Everton pushed on again and only a fine save from Mark Schwarzer denied Saha a goal on his old stomping ground. As the final whistle approached the battle for possession become more concentrated in the middle third of the field, with only sporadic surges forward from both sides breaking the routine.

Bobby Zamora passed up a golden opportunity to put Fulham in the lead when he was put through on goal by Andrew Johnson. Zamora rounded Howard well but proceeded to fire over from eight yards. The Whites were made to pay for that mistake just moments later when Louis Saha was played through on goal and slotted past Schwarzer.

The points were confirmed for the visitors when Jack Rodwell made it three in added time.

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