Fulham tumbled to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of a clinical Everton outfit on Sunday lunchtime.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin grabbed the opener within 41 seconds of the referee’s whistle before Bobby De Cordova-Reid struck back in the 15th minute. A quick-fire double from Calvert-Lewin & Abdoulaye Doucouré quelled the mini-fightback. With 20 minutes remaining Ruben Loftus-Cheek pulled one back moments after Ivan Cavaleiro had missed a penalty, but it proved to be too little too late.
Scott Parker made two changes from the side that were narrowly edged out against West Ham United prior to the international break. Cavaleiro was inserted back into the starting XI along with Mario Lemina, who had recovered from a knock sustained versus West Bromwich Albion.
It was a beautiful winter’s day as the referee got the match up and running at Craven Cottage. A crisp and calm lunchtime by the banks of the Thames, minimal breeze and sunshine to take the edge off the cold.
But it was a disastrous start for Fulham. Sloppy play at the back gifted the visitors an opening in the first minute. A pass out from the back was intercepted and played down the left wing to Richarlison who had ample time to pick out Calvert-Lewin dead in front of the goal to tap home. Not the start we would have hoped for.
In the 13th minute we came close to levelling the score. After calmly working out of danger of the edge of our own box, Lemina led a blistering counter-attack down the left flank. A surging run by Antonee Robinson was spotted and the American in turn fizzed a lovely low cross into the box. De Cordova-Reid was there but mistimed his effort and his weak shot was tipped past the post. A positive reply from Fulham.
In the 15th minute the Jamaican made no mistake to grab an equaliser. Tom Cairney, who had begun to work into pockets of space across the pitch, played a deft one-two with the forward to carve open the Toffees defence. After taking a touch to beat his defender, De Cordova-Reid lashed a wonderful effort into the far corner to draw us level.
In the 21st minute Alphonse Areola was on hand to produce a reaction save to his left to ensure the match remained on an even keel.
After asserting some pressure on the Toffees, we were cut open down our left flank in the 29th minute. Lucas Digne was all alone of the left wing and after a steadying touch the full-back whipped a picture perfect cross to the feet of Calvert-Lewin once more. All the imposing striker had to do was guide it home.
Minutes later Everton had pulled further in front. Digne again the architect. The French international was again allowed time to compose himself and spot the well-timed run of Doucouré. The defender opted for guile rather than power and swung a ball onto the head of the midfielder who powered home.
It was the hosts in complete control and the referee brought the first half to a close, confident in possession and with the quality to pick the lock.
After 10 minutes of the second half Parker made two changes to try and freshen up the approach. Aleksandar Mitrović and Loftus-Cheek were thrust into the fray to replace De Cordova-Reid and Cairney.
The two substitutes combined expertly in the 67th minute and generated a gilt-edge chance to pull one back from the penalty spot. Loftus-Cheek producing a neat touch in the box to beat his man and draw the foul after playing a one-two with Mitro.
Cavaleiro slipped as he approached the spot-kick and our woes from 12 yards out continued as he bobbled his shot over the bar.
Despite the setback we did successfully pulled one back a minute later. Ademola Lookman skinned Digne down the right wing and cut on back to the onrushing Loftus-Cheek who fired home courtesy of a deflection. 20 minutes and all to play for.
Fulham battled until the bitter end but our valiant fight fell just short. We return to action on Monday week at Leicester City.
Fulham XI: Areola; Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Reed, Lemina (69' Anguissa), Cairney (57' Loftus-Cheek); Cavaleiro, De Cordova-Reid (57' Mitrović), Lookman
Everton XI: Pickford; Godfrey, Mina, Keane, Digne; Doucouré, Allan; Iwobi, Rodriguez (74' Davies), Richarlison (76' Sigurdsson); Calvert-Lewin
