Merseyside | Everton end winless run with victory over Fulham

Everton 2 - 0 Fulham

Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane were on target as Everton brought an end to their three-game winless run in the Premier League with victory over Fulham.

Author | Sarah W

Stadium | Hill Dickinson Stadium

David Moyes’ side had two goals chalked off for offside in a frustrating first half, with efforts from Thierno Barry and James Tarkowski both disallowed. Their persistence was finally rewarded in stoppage time when Gueye hammered home a loose ball to give Everton a deserved lead.

Early in the second half, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall appeared to have doubled the advantage, only for the flag to go up again as Barry was ruled offside in the build-up.

Fulham struggled to find rhythm before the break but posed more threat later on, Rodrigo Muniz drawing a sharp save from Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye producing a crucial clearance to keep out a close-range effort from Kevin.

Everton sealed the points nine minutes from time when Keane met Dewsbury-Hall’s corner with a glancing header that left Bernd Leno rooted.

The result lifts Everton to within a point of ninth-placed Crystal Palace, while Fulham remain just above the relegation zone.

Patience and hard work finally pay off for Moyes

David Moyes cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as the fourth official signalled six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half, but the Everton manager’s irritation soon gave way to relief.

His side had dominated Marco Silva’s Fulham for much of the opening period, only to be let down by poor finishing and a series of offside calls that kept the visitors in the contest.

Summer signing Thierno Barry, still searching for his first Premier League goal, thought he had broken the deadlock when he turned in Idrissa Gueye’s cross, but the flag went up with Iliman Ndiaye adjudged offside in the build-up.

Barry had earlier spurned a glorious opportunity, heading Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s inviting delivery high over the bar. James Tarkowski then saw a close-range volley ruled out before rattling the crossbar moments later, and when Fulham failed to clear the danger, Gueye was on hand to drill home the opener.

The hosts might have enjoyed a more comfortable second half had Dewsbury-Hall’s well-placed finish not been ruled out for offside, but they were forced to rely on Jordan Pickford and Ndiaye to keep Fulham at bay as the visitors pushed forward.

Michael Keane’s late header, which appeared to brush off his shoulder, eased any remaining nerves and sealed Everton’s first league win since their victory over Crystal Palace more than a month ago.