http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2011/03/20/fulham-want-mark-hughes-contract-talks-102039-23001873/ (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/news/2011/03/20/fulham-want-mark-hughes-contract-talks-102039-23001873/)
Fulham want Mark Hughes contract talks
Mar 20 2011 by Dave Kidd and Janine Self, The People
(http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/people3/mar2011/6/3/hughespic-984217074.jpg)
FULHAM want to open contract talks with manager Mark Hughes – amid concerns he could become a target for Aston Villa.
Villa boss Gerard Houllier is under severe pressure after a disastrous 1-0 home defeat by Wolves left them just a point above the relegation zone.
Hughes is known to have admirers in the Villa boardroom, although owner Randy Lerner is still loyal to Houllier.
The Frenchman was widely criticised for fielding an under-strength side when Villa were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup.
Sparky signed a two-year deal when he arrived at Craven Cottage last year and the club deny suggestions that he has a clause in the deal allowing him to walk away for nothing at the end of this season.
But there are fears at Fulham that Hughes could have half an eye on bigger jobs.
Hughes had been heavily fancied to succeed Martin O'Neill at Villa when the Ulsterman's rift with Lerner became apparent. But he took the Fulham job just a fortnight before O'Neill eventually left.
Lerner backed Houllier in the January transfer market and assured him he was willing to do so again in the summer but many more defeats could make his position untenable.
Defiant Houllier last night said: "I know what I'm doing. I understand the fans' frustration. Everyone is concerned that we are going through a tough period."
http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2011/03/20/diomansy-kamara-in-talks-with-leicester-and-cardiff-about-fulham-exit-102039-23001327/
Diomansy Kamara in talks with Leicester and Cardiff about Fulham exit
Mar 20 2011
by Alan Nixon, The People
Fulham striker Diomansy Kamara wants a full-time move and is in talks with LEICESTER and CARDIFF.
The Senegalese striker has been told he can go on loan and is discussing terms but wants a permanent deal as part of the switch.
Sven Goran Eriksson's Foxes were leading the chase but are reluctant to commit beyond the end of this season – especially as Kamara, 30, is on £24,000 a week.
Cardiff will consider a permanent transfer but are also concerned about signing Kamara, on loan at Celtic at the end of last season, on those terms.
http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/premier-league-match-reports/2011/03/20/everton-2-1-fulham-familar-story-of-the-blues-102039-23002176/ (http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/premier-league-match-reports/2011/03/20/everton-2-1-fulham-familar-story-of-the-blues-102039-23002176/)
Everton 2-1 Fulham: Familar story of the Blues
Mar 20 2011
by Andrew Collomosse, The People
(http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/people3/mar2011/7/3/everton-main-360514648.jpg)
DAVID MOYES celebrated nine years at the Goodison helm this week and guess who were Everton's opponents on that March day back in 2002?
That's right, Fulham.
And the scoreline when Moyes made his bow? You've guessed it ... 2-1 to Everton.
So who says the fickle hand of fate does not play its part in football, even in the hard-nosed world of the Premier League?
But, unfortunately for Moyes and the home fans, this was no champagne celebration party. Everton just did enough to creep past the finishing post against a determined Fulham side who have never won a league match at Goodison and have lost their last 18 games there on the bounce.
A 35th-minute header by Seamus Coleman and a second from Fulham old boy Louis Saha four minutes after the restart appeared to put Everton in the comfort zone. But the 59th-minute introduction of frontman Bobby Zamora transformed the visitors and they pulled one back through the impressive Clint Dempsey two minutes later.
It looked as if Fulham might finally end their miserable sequence.
But Everton hung on to pass the magical 40 points mark and move into eighth place, leaving Fulham looking anxiously over their shoulders.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes said: "Everton were pegging us back and we didn't really have an outlet. But we were much more aggressive in the second half and created a number of chances that might have gone in on another day."
Moyes was happy to see a repeat of his first-match scoreline, saying: "It was a similar sort of game and 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline because in this league there's never going to be an easy win.
"I don't know whether 40 points will be enough for safety but, hopefully, we'll pick up a few more before the end of the season."
Everton were the first to threaten after a lacklustre start. Leighton Baines, a constant threat on the left, crossed for Saha, who saw his 27th-minute header cleared off the line by Carlos Salcido.
Fault
But eight minutes later Everton hit the jackpot when Baines found Leon Osman on the left and Coleman took advantage of sloppy marking to head in at the far post.
The Fulham rearguard was again at fault after the interval when Baines slipped a 25-yard free-kick to Saha, whose shot flew through the defensive wall to give Mark Schwarzer no chance.
But the floodgates did not open and the arrival of Zamora, watched by England boss Fabio Capello, for Dickson Etuhu sparked a Fulham revival that brought Dempsey's goal two minutes later.
Damien Duff's cross was laid off by Zamora into Dempsey's path and he drilled home a 20-yard shot.
Everton 2-1 Fulham: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 22:31 19/03/11
By Derick Allsop
(http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/match-centre/article712547.ece/ALTERNATES/gallery-large/Seamus+Coleman-Everton-David+Murphy-+Birmingham+City+cropped)
The names may change but the story remains the same – and Fulham were sent away nursing all-too-familiar wounds.
Everton have never been beaten in a league match on this ground by Fulham and goals by Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha confirmed their 18th consecutive victory in the fixture.
Fulham's performance and approach frankly deserved no better than this unwanted record in the top flight of the English game.
For all the touchline angst of manager Mark Hughes, too few of his players displayed the commitment required of a club still too close to the lower reaches of the table for comfort.
Only when they were 2-0 down did Fulham show any genuine conviction or appetite for the fight and Clint Dempsey's goal merely compounded the folly of their earlier lack of ambition.
David Moyes began his reign at Goodison Park nine years ago with a 2-1 win against Fulham, and he was practically assured the usual result as the visitors retreated in the face of Everton's early offensives.
But Dempsey's goal sent a shiver of apprehension through the blue ranks and gave Fulham the belief that they could salvage something from this jinxed trip.
Early on, Fulham striker Saha climbed to meet Leighton Baines' corner only for his header to be blocked. A succession of corners proved no more productive for Everton. Saha ought to have made more of another delivery from Baines and
Carlos Salcido, stationed at the far post, had time to clear. Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was just as comfortable gathering a header from Jack Rodwell.
Everton's persistence was eventually rewarded when Leon Osman chipped a perfect cross for Coleman to head with equal accuracy beyond Schwarzer's reach.
The breakthrough forced Fulham to emerge from their bunker and explore Everton's half of the pitch.
It still took them until the 45th minute to threaten Tim Howard's goal and even then the keeper was untroubled as Dempsey's blast veered wide.
Fulham's cause became virtually mission impossible early in the second half.
Baines rolled a free-kick to Saha and he drilled a low right-foot shot between the legs of Danny Murphy and past a startled Schwarzer.
The points would certainly have been secure for Everton if Coleman's long-range effort hadn't been saved by the acrobatic Schwarzer – but then Hughes sent on Bobby Zamora and Fulham suddenly found a sense of purpose.
Damien Duff, ineffective for over an hour, picked out Zamora, who set up Dempsey to pull one back.
Hughes glimpsed the prospect of a comeback and added Gael Kakuta to his attacking options, and their cause was aided by Everton's anxiety.
But the home defence held firm in the end, albeit with a dose of good fortune.
Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Everton-2-1-Fulham-Sunday-Mirror-match-report-Seamus-Coleman-and-Louis-Saha-combine-to-give-David-Moyes-a-happy-10th-anniversary-article715602.html#ixzz1H7Zp6r00 (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Everton-2-1-Fulham-Sunday-Mirror-match-report-Seamus-Coleman-and-Louis-Saha-combine-to-give-David-Moyes-a-happy-10th-anniversary-article715602.html#ixzz1H7Zp6r00)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/19/everton-fulham-premier-league?INTCMP=SRCH (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/19/everton-fulham-premier-league?INTCMP=SRCH)Everton see off Fulham to lift David Moyes on anniversary Comments (31) Observer report
Everton 2 Coleman 36, Saha 49
Fulham 1 Dempsey 62
Tim Rich at Goodison Park guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 March 2011 19.35 GMT
(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2011/3/19/1300560656673/Everton-v-Fulham-007.jpg)
The Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is unable to stop Seamus Coleman's header putting Everton 1-0 up. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Flying in the face of the truism that diamonds are a girl's best friend, Lorraine Case's family bought her an advertising hoarding at Goodison Park and sponsorship of this match to celebrate her 40th birthday. On reflection, Lorraine should have demanded the stones. Diamonds are forever, memories of this match, except in the Case household, are likely to fade rather more quickly.
It was also David Moyes's birthday; his ninth anniversary as manager of Everton. His first game had been against Fulham, won by the same scoreline amid a cascade of optimism. Earlier this week, Moyes had celebrated the landmark with an interview full of shadows and with rather more regret than there should have been for a manager with his achievements. It suggested that the summer will be critical if he is to take his tenure into double figures.
Once more, Everton are finishing a season strongly and once more Moyes may ask himself what they might have achieved with a decent beginning and rather fewer injuries. On Saturdaynight they endured another with Louis Saha, whose fierce free-kick driven through an unstable wall proved decisive, carried off on a stretcher three minutes from the finish with an ankle injury.
The result was as predictable as a pair of birthday socks. This was Everton's 18th straight home victory over Fulham. Not since 1959, the year Tommy Trinder, with his catchphrase of: 'You lucky, lucky people' took over as chairman at Craven Cottage, have Fulham left Goodison Park with a point. Since they have never won at Anfield, this was a familiar road to Merseyside, paved with shards of glass.
Perhaps it was the blossom in Stanley Park, the soft spring sunshine or the fact that, compared to the dramas enveloping the clubs below them, nothing very much was at stake, but this was an end-of-term game sometimes played at an end-of-term pace.
After half an hour during which almost nothing happened, the lethargy began to infect the Fulham defence, which left Seamus Coleman entirely unmarked as Leon Osman sent over a deep cross that, too late, Carlos Salcido realised was heading squarely for the Irishman's forehead. It was directed powerfully and beautifully past Mark Schwarzer, who before kick-off had been shown on the big screens pulling a series of Everton goals from the back of his net.
Salcido did not have a bad match. He had already cleared off the line from Saha when, late in the second half, he dived full length to deflect a Phil Jagielka header that looked utterly goal-bound.
"We were too passive and we paid the price," Mark Hughes said of his Fulham team. "We gave ourselves too much to do and the second-half performance cannot mask the fact that this is the poorest we have played for a number of weeks." Perhaps it was because they knew where they were going.
Craven Cottage may be gaining a statue of Michael Jackson – a man whose relationship with Fulham is as difficult to fathom as Elvis Presley's with Rochdale – but Hughes would like a fit Bobby Zamora rather more.
Watched by Fabio Capello, the striker is still several weeks from full match fitness, but when he was introduced his first touch was to knock down a cross for Clint Dempsey to run on to. The American's finish in front of the massed ranks of the Gwladys End was entirely emphatic.
September was not much of a month for either club. Fulham lost Zamora to a broken leg while Everton were humbled in the Carling Cup by League One side Brentford and picked up only two points from the available nine. Both Hughes and Moyes will look at the season and wonder what might have been.
THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT
STEVE JONES, BlueKipper.com We deserved that overall. The first half was poor, though we dominated it – it looked as if the 22 players had been drinking all afternoon rather than the fans. But we stepped it up in the second half. Saha's goal was a great strike – he gets a lot of criticism for his injuries but when he does play he's top class. It was a great header from Coleman too and he was my man of the match. Even after Fulham scored, they didn't really threaten, though Zamora made a difference. Things have been a bit downbeat in the past couple of weeks but we're up to eighth with an outside chance of Europe. .
The fan's player ratings Howard 7; Hibbert 7, Jagielka 7, Distin 7, Baines 7; Coleman 9, Rodwell 6 (Bilyaletdinov 77 n/a), Neville 7; Osman 7; Cahill 7 (Heitinga 69 7); Saha 7 (Beckford 87 n/a)
DAVID LLOYD, TOOFIF.co.uk It was too little too late in the end. We contained them reasonably well in the first half but we didn't show enough urgency. The second goal was a killer. We had a free-kick that Everton countered quickly and all of a sudden we were 2-0 down and chasing the game. From then on we actually came into the game. Zamora came on and set up Dempsey – he doesn't look 100% but he makes such a difference to us. He even had a glorious chance to level for us late in the second half. We are only three points from the relegation zone. I'm optimist by nature but I'm not taking anything for granted.
The fan's player ratings Schwarzer 6; Baird 6, Hughes 6, Hangeland 5, Salcido 7; Etuhu 6 (Zamora 61 6); Duff 6 (Kakuta 75 5) Dembélé 5, Murphy 7, Dempsey 6; Johnson 6 (Gudjohnsen 84 5),
To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email
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Match Stats -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/match/3111204 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/match/3111204)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7944135/Everton-2-Fulham-1-match-report.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7944135/Everton-2-Fulham-1-match-report.html)
Everton 2 Fulham 1: match report
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Everton and Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday March 19.
EVERTON 2 - 1 FULHAM Saturday, March 19 17:30
Premier League
Goodison Park Coleman (36)Saha (49) (HT 1-0)
ATT: 33,239 Dempsey (62)
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01852/louis-saha_1852625c.jpg)
Pumped up: Louis Saha (right) celebrates after scoring Everton's second goal during against Fulham Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Rory Smith 7:30PM GMT 19 Mar 2011
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1 Comment
Nine years and 418 games on, the opponents, the outcome and the score were all the same. The effect, though, was entirely different.
Fulham were the first team David Moyes faced as Everton manager when he arrived at Goodison Park in 2002. His team won that game 2-1, too. But that was an Everton with relegation to avoid, a future to fight for, a status to preserve. This is an Everton with no such inspiration.
Victory here, thanks to goals from Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha, might have propelled the Scot's side to eighth in the Premier League, within touching distance of Liverpool, but bragging rights only mean so much.
Everton are in no danger of relegation, and require a miracle to reach Europe.
"Most years we have been looking up, rather than down," said Moyes. This season, they are left with nothing but navel-gazing.
They may be left without Saha, too. The striker was carried off in agony in the dying stages and due to have an X-ray on an injured ankle.
That will not help Moyes indulge the delusion of Europe. Everton do, indeed, have a slim chance of reaching the Europa League, but require Manchester City to win the FA Cup, finish outside the Champions League places and the moon to spend much of April in Aquarius.
After Coleman's expertly-placed header, it was Saha's fierce free-kick which enabled that dream – fantasy – to persist, the Frenchman whistling an effort through Fulham's wall to put the hosts two goals ahead immediately after the break.
Clint Dempsey's low shot threatened to give the hosts a rather hairier conclusion than they might have desired, but Fulham, even with Bobby Zamora's introduction, could offer little more than a fleeting threat.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/saha-strikes-but-everton-fail-to-sparkle-2247127.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/saha-strikes-but-everton-fail-to-sparkle-2247127.html)
Saha strikes but Everton fail to sparkle
Everton 2 Fulham 1
By Chris Brereton at Goodison Park
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Nine years and 418 games ago this week, Everton manager David Moyes opened his Goodison Park managerial career with a home victory over Fulham. Many things have changed in the intervening years but the sense of unpredictability and frustration that surely comes with following his side remains as potent as ever.
"It's a dangerous result, 2-0," Moyes said after watching his side take that lead and then do their best to throw it away. "It was a good victory and we had to grind it out. We let them back into it a little from 2-0, I don't know if we came off the gas or if Fulham upped their game.
"When they got the goal it was tough, they had a lot of the ball and we had to dig in, but with the players we had out there in that situation we knew we could do that."
Two goals up and cruising to 2-1 and hanging on. Everton love to make it difficult for their fans and no more so than in this encounter. Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha gave them a comfortable looking lead and all seemed well with the world. And then, from nowhere, Clint Dempsey halved the deficit and Everton became nervous, although they just about did enough to deserve it.
Saha, a former Craven Cottage resident, looked bright and sharp from the off, Leon Osman probed on the peripheries while Coleman's burgeoning talent was also ably displayed. A Saha header was knocked off the line by Carlos Salcido but Everton finally broke Fulham's resistance before the interval as Coleman headed a superb Osman cross past Mark Schwarzer to calm the home fans' concerns. If that unsteadied Fulham, Everton's second four minutes after the restart threw their afternoon entirely off its axis. Or so it appeared.
Saha fired a low free-kick from 25 yards that Fulham's defensive wall helpfully did its best to avoid and the effort left Schwarzer unsighted and helpless. That appeared to be that but Dempsey's beautifully-taken left-foot effort just after the hour mark exacerbated the idea that Everton struggle to finish off games.
Dempsey reacted quickest in front of an Everton defence that had slush in its veins but further chances were squandered – and Saha was carried off after a nasty looking fall. Again, some things never change.
"We are disappointed really," Fulham manager Mark Hughes said.
Attendance: 33,239
Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: Coleman
Match rating: 6/10
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/182162/Everton-2-Fulham-1/
EVERTON 2 FULHAM 1
20th March 2011
By Gary Carter
LOUIS SAHA finished off former club Fulham to ensure David Moyes had a happy ninth anniversary as Everton manager.
But the gloss was taken off the celebrations when Louis Saha ended the match on a stretcher.
And you have to fear for the Cottagers, who seemingly strolled through much of this match without a care in the world.
The game may not have been a classic but Saha's thunderous free-kick that wrapped up the points lit up Goodison Park.
It looked like it was all over as soon as Seamus Coleman expertly headed Leon Osman's cross past Mark Schwarzer on 35 minutes.
Fulham were awful – almost as bad as their record in the blue half of Merseyside, where they have never won and not taken a point since 1959.
Yet they made sure the Everton fans bit their nails to the quick after Clint Dempsey pulled one back.
If they had completed the turnaround though it would have been a travesty after the opening hour.
They looked like a side in the ultimate comfort zone, not one just three points above the drop.
Manager Mark Hughes this week distanced himself from the job at Bayern Munich – but admitted the link was 'flattering'.
If the interest is genuine it must be a no-brainer. Many more displays like this and there is every chance of them being sucked into the Championship.
It was fitting that on the ninth anniversary of Moyes' reign at Goodison Park that Everton faced Fulham – the side he started it all against with a 2-1 win.
Undoubtedly, the club has moved forward but, just like then, the need for progression is clear.
Everton knew a win would take them to that supposed magical 40-point barrier.
But there is still plenty to think about at Goodison Park – not least whether the investment that would allow Moyes to take them forward and challenge more regularly will be made available.
And with Fulham coming to Merseyside on the back of 18 straight defeats at Goodison Park confidence was high.
You would not have known that both sides had something to play for from the opening 10 minutes though.
Both defences should be given credit. Brede Hangeland looked immense and Chris Baird blocked Saha's half-chance while Sylvain Distin was equally good.
The first real effort came on 28 minutes, when Saha should have done better with a header from Leighton Baines' corner.
He was relatively free four yards out but Carlos Salcido cleared with ease.
If the Toffees' attack was blunt, then Fulham's was impotent. Hughes' men did not appear too bothered though as they aimlessly passed the ball.
Coleman's header shattered their calm and meant they now had to come out and attack.
But their quality up front was illustrated when Salcido fired in a superb cross and no striker got near it.
Hughes looked a man who had just ripped into his side.
After the terrible defending that allowed Saha Everton's second, it was a wonder he did not explode.
The Frenchman's strike was excellent but the ball shouldn't have gone through the wall after Jack Rodwell's surging run was ended by Dickson Etuhu.
Hughes threw on Bobby Zamora and he made an instant impact, laying off Damien Duff's pass to Dempsey, whose left-foot shot arrowed into the corner.
The happy ending was tarnished for Moyes and Everton though, as Saha was carried off.
Moyes said: "We let them get back into the game. We went two-nil up and I don't know if we ran out of energy or whether Fulham upped their game but they got back in it.
"When they got their goal it was tough but with the players we had out, we had to grind out a result.
EVERTON: Howard 6; Hibbert 7, Distin 8, Jagielka 6, Baines 7; Coleman 8, Neville 7, Rodwell 7 (Bilyaletdinov 77th), Osman 6; Cahill 6 (Heitinga (69th) 6), Saha 7 (Beckford 88th)
FULHAM: Schwarzer 7; Baird 6, Hangeland 7, Hughes 6, Salcido 7; Duff 6 (Kakuta 75th), Etuhu 5 (Zamora (60th) 7), Murphy 7, Dempsey 7; Dembele 6, Johnson 6 (Gudjohnsen 84th)
STAR MAN: Seamus Coleman
Ref: M Oliver
Everton 2 Fulham 1: Saha and Coleman on target as Toffees survive fightback
By Mark Ryan Last updated at 1:49 AM on 20th March 2011
Fulham boss Mark Hughes warned watching England manager Fabio Capello that Bobby Zamora is not ready to start games, as the Italian pondered his squad to face Wales.
But Hughes was more alarmed about his team's 'passive' approach to a defeat that might have consequences at the end of the season.
Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha ensured Everton's victory, before Zamora set up Clint Dempsey for a reply that gave the Londoners belated hope.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/19/article-1367875-0B3FFEE700000578-286_634x365.jpg)
Back of the net: Coleman (not pictured) opens the scoring at Goodison Park with an unstoppable header
The comeback was too late, and it was England hopefuls Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines who emerged with more credit than Zamora, having spent much of the match unruffled in Everton's defence.
A a sombre Hughes said: 'We were too passive in the first half and that was disappointing. We were more aggressive in the second half but that couldn't mask what had happened before the interval.
'Zamora did fine when he came on as substitute with half an hour to go, but it is still early days for Bobby after his injury lay-off, and he is not quite ready to start games yet.'
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/19/article-1367875-0B4012F000000578-130_634x438.jpg)
Lou beauty: Saha celebrates after scoring Everton's second goal of the game shortly after the interval
MATCH FACTS
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Neville, Rodwell (Bilyaletdinov 77min), Osman; Cahill (Heitinga 69); Saha (Beckford 87). Subs (not used): Mucha, Gueye, Anichebe, Baxter. Booked: Osman, Hibbert.
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido; Duff (Kakuta 75), Murphy, Etuhu (Zamora 60), Dempsey; Dembele, Johnson (Gudjohnsen 84). Subs (not used): Stockdale, Kelly, Greening, Davies.
Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland).
Everton manager David Moyes was much more effusive about his own England players.
'I thought Jagielka played really well, as did Baines, who looked comfortable throughout.'
Left-back Baines set up Leon Osman for some trickery on the left before Coleman had time to pick his spot with a firm 36th-minute header.
And Baines touched off a free-kick for Saha to drill an explosive shot through Fulham legs just after half time, the Frenchman celebrating his 250th Premier League appearance.
Unfortunately for Saha, he later sustained an ankle injury after falling awkwardly, and was carried off for X-ray.
Fulham's glimmer of hope came when Zamora cushioned Damien Duff's cross into the path of Dempsey, who rifled his side's reply with a precise left-foot shot.
Jagielka almost caught Capello's eye in attack, but his powerful header was cleared off the line by Carlos Salcido.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/19/article-1367875-0B3FFAFC00000578-245_634x343.jpg)
Everton boss David Moyes criticised Sian Massey for being 'slow to put her flag up'. Sexist jibes at assistant ref Massey led to Sky sacking Andy Gray and Richard Keys, and Moyes said: 'The crowd were waiting for her. Sometimes you just think: Come on!'
The Everton central defender will doubtless celebrate his new four-year contract with an England call-up this weekend. As for Hhughes and Zamora, Premier League survival must remain the priority.
And Fulham will have to do better than this if they want to avoid a very ugly finish to their season.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1367875/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-Seamus-Coleman-target-Toffees-survive-fightback.html#ixzz1H7jDLdZS (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1367875/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-Seamus-Coleman-target-Toffees-survive-fightback.html#ixzz1H7jDLdZS)
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/other_sports/118317089_Clint_Dempsey_sets_record.html (http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/other_sports/118317089_Clint_Dempsey_sets_record.html)
Clint Dempsey sets record
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Record
Clint Dempsey became the first American to score 10 goals during a Premier League season, but could not prevent Fulham from losing at Everton, 2-1, Saturday.
Fellow American, midfielder Stuart Holden, sustained a deep knee gash during Bolton's 1-0 loss to first-place Manchester United.
Dempsey struck a powerful low shot from the edge of the penalty area, beating U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 62nd minute. Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha had put Everton in front and the home team held on.
Dempsey topped the American mark set by Brian McBride, who scored nine times for Fulham in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
Holden was taken off the field by stretcher to a hospital. His left knee was cut after a cleats-up challenge by United defender Jonny Evans in the 76th minute . Evans drew a red card.
Dimitar Berbatov capitalized on Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's error to score the winning goal in the 88th minute for his league-high 20th of the season.
http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-11/comment/fan/17464.html (http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-11/comment/fan/17464.html)
Our Yearly Fulham Triumph
By Luke O'Farrell : 20/03/2011
The team news came through on the way to the ground. Cahill and Neville were back in the starting XI along with Seamus. I would have liked to have seen Bily given a start, with Osman moving inside. However, that would show intent; something Moyes doesn't seem to possess. Gueye, the invisible man, made an appearance on the bench along with its regular warmers.
The game began after a minute's silence for the recent events in Japan; it was impeccably observed, as always. The first 10 mins passed by without much of note, bar a few corners and needless free kicks apiece. Neville seemed to be up for this one, he passed the ball quite well for 15 mins; he then proceeded to go AWOL.
The first noteworthy effort came from that trusty left foot of our beloved left back; flashing a 25-yarder wide, well wide in the end. Not since Sheedy and Hinchcliffe has Goodison seen such a cultured left peg.
Around 25 mins in, we forced a few corners after Cahill and then Saha had shots blocked. Baines swung one in from our left and Saha guided a header towards the far corner. For once, the full back, Salcido, had stayed on the post and the danger was cleared; we were slowly waking up. Surely a goal was coming soon, since Fulham's record at Goodison is like Europe's recent Eurovision record; abysmal.
The breakthrough finally came, around 10 mins before the break. Baines and Osman linked up well down the left hand, as they did for the majority of the first 60 mins. Baines feigned the cross and pulled the ball back to Osman. He showed his usual quick feet to waltz past Murphy and lift a lovely cross towards the back stick. Salcido, fresh from his earlier goal-line clearance, seemed to have taken half-time early as he was nowhere to be seen. Coleman accepted the freedom of L4 to steer a well-placed header past Schwarzer and into the bottom left hand corner. Baines hit a free kick into the wall and Dempsey fired over for Fulham and that was pretty much it for the first 45.
Second half began, with both teams unchanged. I was hoping we could get a second early on; I can't trust us to defend a lead anymore. Rodwell burst forward; I haven't said that often this season. Etuhu seemed to be trying to get into his shorts and as he reached the edge of the area, Etuhu finally got his man. Free kick, 25 yards out. Baines and the mercurial Frenchman were lining it up.
The angle didn't seem to favour either player, so I was wondering curiously how this would turn out. I was quite shocked and genuinely puzzled, yet delighted with what followed. Baines laid the ball off to Saha, who ran up and slammed a right footer into the goal. Schwarzer had no chance. The wall seemed flimsy, although I didn't mind. After the euphoria of the goal died down, it struck me: Saha had hit a pearler, from a set piece, with his wrong foot! With his left, he probably would have hit it over; that sums him up.
Etuhu and Duff then had a couple of token efforts from way out; neither troubled Howard. Coleman burst forward and had a go from 25 yards after a good run. It seemed a fairly routine save, Schwarzer though made sure ESPN had something to use in the credits.
An hour gone and the game had that end-of-season feel to it. Cue 30 mins of nothing football and a welcome 3 points at home? Oh how wrong was I... we folded like a cheap pack of cards. Duff picked the ball up on their right and it was worked into Zamora. He held off a challenge and laid it off to Dempsey, who dispatched a quality strike past Howard. He lost the attentions of Rodwell far too easily in the build up. Having barely been in the game, Fulham now had their tails up.
We seemed to retreat and with that went the team's collective brain. It is truly amazing how one goal affects your ability to pass a ball and make normal, rational decisions. We retreated and gave the ball away for fun; thankfully, Fulham were lacking the quality to punish us. Our shocking last 30 mins was only hindered by the manager's bizarre and oh so negative substitutions. Heitinga for Cahill; maybe Moyes was trying for a record number of defenders on the pitch at any one time?
After some good hassling by Heitinga, we forced a corner. Osman whipped in an inviting ball and Jagielka rose, like the proverbial salmon, to guide a header towards the net. Salcido again came to the visitor's rescue, flinging himself at the ball to prevent a game-clinching third. For all their huff and puff, the closet Fulham came to a point was a Zamora header that lacked power and drifted wide.
We held out and gleefully accepted the 3 points. A promising period, before and after half-time, wasn't built on. I would also like to see a bit more intent from the manager, given the lack of creative players in midfield. A central pairing of Neville and Rodwell may run all day and try their hardest but they're never going to get you playing or dictating a game. Osman should be in there for now, since he is probably in the form of his life at the minute; and for the record, I'm one of his doubters.
Ratings:
Howard: Solid, came off his line well for a change, but didn't really have much to do. 6
Hibbert: Put a few good crosses in and defended well, barely got forward second half though. Still looks so awkward in possession. 6
Jagielka: Stood tall towards the end as we crumbled, excellent defensively. Still can't pass to save his life though. 8
Distin: Quiet game, got on with his job and won all his headers. Is having his best season so far. 7
Baines: Ran, and ran and ran. Put some great crosses in, and is our biggest threat at the moment. 8
Coleman: Attacked well, always looked a threat and took his goal really well. He faded slightly towards the end though. 7
Neville: Promising start, but then disappeared completely. Prone to giving away needless fouls and not picking up runners. 5
Rodwell: Got about the pitch well, made one great tackle. Lost Dempsey for the goal though, still don't think he is a centre mid. 6
Osman: Playing well, linked up with Baines well and did great for the first goal. He battled well towards the end. Should have been subbed though, he was out on his feet after 70 mins. 7
Cahill: Won his fair share of headers, the game seemed to pass him by in the main though. He seemed to go off injured towards the end and could do with a break; looks exhausted. 6
Saha: kept dropping deep first half; needs to stay up top. Took the goal well and played better after it. Injury looks bad though, hopefully it's not too serious. 6
Subs: Bily, Heitinga, Beckford: Can't really judge, not given long enough, any of them.
Moyes: Waited too long to sub and when he did they were far too negative. I know we have injuries, but taking off an attacking midfielder for a centre-back at home is a joke. We have nothing to lose so he should be going for it, not trying to hang on every game. 5
Villa next, god I hate them. We always seem to outplay them, yet never beat them. Hopefully the few internationals we have return unscathed and we can beat the Villa. Maybe this season can end with a good run of results; it still won't hide away from the drivel we've seen this year though.
It might just make that season ticket renewal seem a bit more of a sane idea though.
http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-11/comment/editorial/17463.html (http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/10-11/comment/editorial/17463.html)
From my seat: Fulham (H)
By Ken Buckley : 19/03/2011 : Comments (0) : Blues win battle of the draw kings
A lovely sunny evening and almost 34,000 descend on Goodison to watch the two teams at the very top of this season's draw table so a good bet at the bookies for a stalemate. This overlooks the fact that we always beat Fulham at home and so, as it panned out, history won over stats.
This was not a game that set the pulses racing but, nevertheless, a game that was important for maximum points, considering the tightness from top to bottom of this season's league. It turned out the sort of game that produced workmanlike performances rather than any joined-up flowing stuff and determination was the order of the day rather than flair.
Everton were the dominant side of the first half and, from the off, Baines was a constant threat down the left and Osman flitting about with menace in those quick feet. The returning Neville organised well and Hibbert, Distin and Jags looked solid. Cahill also returned but, apart from being good in the air, looked the worse for his heroics for his country in a tournament that took him away from the battles that have made him very rich and have now left him looking weary.
Not a lot took place in the half except for some promising runs that eventually came to nought. Plus points were Osman curling one over and Baines dragging one wide. Saha had a run on goal that looked promising but the giant Hangeland tackled well. We sort of looked threatening without actually threatening then Baines delivered a good corner which Saha met and headed into the deck toward goal but a well positioned defender headed clear from the line. Again Baines got down the line and put in a great cross for Rodwell to produce a header that was a mere back-pass to the keeper.
With ten to go until the break, we at last got some quality flowing when Baines again got free down the left, fed Osman who with deft touches left his markers and put in a peach of a cross to the far post that was met by the industrious Coleman who this time steadied himself and found the corner of the net rather than straight at the keeper. I couldn't say the roof came off but a loud cheer of relief was heard.
Our tails were up and Coleman went on a run of purpose but was felled on the edge and the free kick from Baines struck the wall. Right at the end of injury time, Fulham had their first glimpse of the half when, after good work by old boy AJ, Dempsey was narrowly wide.
Half-time and all seemed satisfied but the first team should have witnessed the under nines who got an accolade for keeping clean sheets. Progress in the making?
I expected Fulham to start the second period all guns blazing but it was the Blues who started sharper and, within five mins, the underperforming Rodwell was brought down in clumsy fashion near the edge of the box. Baines and Saha were over the ball in conversation, Baines rolled it to Saha who shot with his wrong foot hard and low, the ball went through the wall and past the unsighted keeper in a flash. Much celebration between players and the crowd burst into life.
The half then saw us go into a defensive shell, inviting Fulham on and relying on breaks to do more damage. It became fast and furious at times but craft and guile were absent. We blocked shots and scrambled for second balls with a sort of 'we have what we hold' attitude. Coleman was set free and he ran on goal at pace but his shot was straight at the keeper from distance.
On the hour mark, Zamora was sent on and this move paid instant dividends when his quick turn fed Duff who immediately played in Dempsey who rifled into the bottom corner. Stony silence met that one as Fulham don't seem to do away fans. Many a Blue mused 'here we go again' as our scrambling defence creaked a little more but we persisted with trying to create breaks using in the main the pace of Coleman. One of these produced a corner expertly taken by Osman and met by Jags and, but for a goal-line clearance by a well positioned defender on the far post, it would have been game over.
At the death, which included 5 mins of injury time, we had goal chances for each team and an unwanted injury. First Zamora had a headed chance wasted then Saha landed heavily from an aerial dual that saw the need of a stretcher to take him off. A break saw Beckford, on for Saha, head for goal from the left and Osman busting a gut to get in a great position in the box. Beckford was either greedy or just plain head down and didn't see the bigger picture and ended up shooting to no avail. We saw out the remaining minutes without incident and, on the whistle, most greeted the win with polite applause and a feeling of 'A win is a win'
MotM – A hard call as no-one really stood out but I would share it between Baines and Osman purely on the grounds that they showed the most class.
Overall nothing more than three points gained but those points got us to the 40-mark and the crowd able to witness a win. Maybe a glimmer of hope toward Europa qualification? With the league and our team as it is this season, anything can happen but today I think at least we put relegation to bed... so onward and upward. Today, I thought it was a game too soon for Cahill, while Rodwell failed to live up to his high price tags... was he preoccupied with the sight of a female assistant ref? She demonstrated that she knew the offside rule well and was admirable but seemed less sure of what constituted a foul.
On leaving the ground, an amusing interlude took place outside the ticket office with a knot of well bladdered fans chanting in unison. Was it a protest? No-one could understand them and the gathering was brought to an end when a fan shouted toward them and requested in strong scouse Anglo-Saxon that they should indeed return to Norway.
Villa next and another win would be welcome but we have to wait a fortnight for that as it's international break next week. I hope all our players involved come back with a clean bill of health and free from tap-ups. See you there.
UP THE BLUES
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/salcidos-dilemma-not-his-fault/
Salcido's dilemma: not his fault?
Filed under: Analysis — rich @ 7:26 pm
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So who's he supposed to mark? If he doesn't cover Cahill then there's a ridiculously free deadly player on the edge of our six yard box. If he does there's a small Irishman behind him. I think Cahill did what he could here, and that finderpointing his way is misplaced.
Zamora rallies Fulham, but Everton hold firm
By Yann Tear
Mar 19 2011
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/ealinggazette/aug2010/1/1/clint-dempsey-image-1-393921088.jpg)
Everton 2-1 Fulham
BOBBY Zamora came off the bench on the hour to immediately set up a goal for Clint Dempsey (pictured) to give Fulham hope of taking a rare point from Goodison Park.
But a first half goal from Seamus Colman on 36 minutes and a Louis Saha free-kick against his old side four minutes after the break proved enough to give the home side the points.
Mark Hughes did his best to inject a greater threat in the second half, with Eidar Gudjohnsen and Gael Kakuta also coming on to try and salvage something from the game. But the Whites perhaps paid the price for a passive first hour.
The result keeps Fulham looking anxiously over their shoulders, because although 12th, they are just three points above Wolves, who are in the drop zone, with eight to play.
Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/03/19/zamora-rallies-fulham-but-everton-hold-firm-64767-28367986/#ixzz1H7yWmRVB (http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/03/19/zamora-rallies-fulham-but-everton-hold-firm-64767-28367986/#ixzz1H7yWmRVB)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/9430370.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/9430370.stm)
Everton wait on Louis Saha injury news
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51752000/jpg/_51752062_011570663-1.jpg)
Saha was stretchered off late in the game
Everton manager David Moyes is awaiting the results on Louis Saha's injury after the striker was stretchered off during the 2-1 victory over Fulham.
Saha, who scored Everton's second goal, appeared to land awkwardly on his ankle after challenging for a header four minutes from time.
After receiving treatment on the pitch the French forward was carried off.
"He had earlier signalled a hamstring problem, but it might have been something else," said Moyes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9426572.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9426572.stm)
Everton 2 - 1 Fulham
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51753000/jpg/_51753228_coleman.jpg)
Schwarzer is given no chance as Coleman heads in the opening goal for Everton
By Mark Ashenden
Everton survived a nervy last half-hour to overcome Fulham and keep alive their slim hopes of a Europa Cup slot.
Leighton Baines tore the visitors open and Everton deservedly led when Seamus Coleman nodded in Leon Osman's cross.
Louis Saha's free-kick doubled the lead after the break but the Toffees were complacent and Clint Dempsey pulled a goal back with a strike from 25 yards.
Phil Jagielka almost headed Everton's third and they nearly paid for it but Bobby Zamora wasted a late chance.
The result means Fulham have now lost 18 successive league games at Goodison Park - they last claimed a point in this part of Merseyside in 1959.
Click to play
Player absence led to 'dull' game - Moyes
Fulham started the day hopeful of entering the top half of the table but, instead, this loss will have manager Mark Hughes fearing a relegation fight.
Opposite number David Moyes will be pleased to see his side move into eighth spot with a third league win in four games and a chance to close a nine-point gap to get into a Europa Cup spot.
The three points did not come without its pain for Everton as striker Saha left the field on a stretcher in the 86th minute after landing awkwardly when leaping for a header.
Despite the late drama with the visitors piling forward in search of an equaliser, the game overall was a disappointing battle, with Baines providing the only bright moments from the left flank in the opening half-hour.
Fulham defender Chris Baird looked increasingly uncomfortable as he tried to contain Baines and on 27 minutes the Toffees defender's left foot created an opener but Saha wasted a headed chance from an inswinging corner.
Despite beginning the weekend sharing the second best away defence record in the league with Chelsea, the impressive Brede Hangeland and his Fulham team-mates were gradually showing signs of vulnerability facing Moyes' lively frontline.
And 10 minutes before the break, the deadlock was broken. And not surprisingly, the danger arrived from the left.
It was the boot of Osman, though, that caused the damage as his floated cross fell to Coleman, who cleverly steadied his feet before guiding the ball past keeper Mark Schwarzer.
Soon after the break the score was doubled and the mood of Hughes - who looked furious at the end of the first half - would have darkened somewhat as he witnessed the ineptitude of his defensive wall.
Jack Rodwell was felled by a clumsy tackle from Dickson Etuhu on the edge of the box and after Baines rolled the ball to Saha, the Frenchman blasted through Danny Murphy's legs for his seventh of the season.
Everton appeared to be strolling to victory, but on the hour they seemed to switch off and their sleepy defence was finally breached as Hughes' team burst into life.
Click to play
Fulham ran out of time - Hughes
Soon after keeper Tim Howard was sharp enough to smother successive shots by Damien Duff and Etuhu, the American keeper was soon picking the ball out of the net.
And it was his compatriot Dempsey who fired in a belter following a sweet move begun by Duff on the right, with striker Zamora providing the crucial pass with his first touch of the game.
It was an inspired substitution by Hughes and his team forced their opponents further back, much to the frustration of the increasingly irate Moyes on the sidelines.
A day after signing a new four-year deal, Jagielka came agonisingly close with a header from Osman's corner that was goalbound before Carlos Salcido nodded the danger away.
However, Fulham had the energy and desire to strive for the second goal and Zamora had a great chance to make the headlines in the dying minutes. His header six yards out was wasteful after a beautiful cross by Gael Kakuta and it proved to be his team's final opportunity.
Everton held on and survived to claim the spoils and help extend the celebrations of Moyes, who recently completed his ninth year in the Goodison Park hotseat.
Hughes, meanwhile, has plenty to think about. His team may be in a respectable 12th spot but are only three points from the drop zone.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Everton 2-1 Fulham FT
(HT 1-0)
Coleman 36
Saha 49
Dempsey 62
Hide team line-ups and match stats
Everton
24 Howard
02 Hibbertyellow card03 Baines
06 Jagielka
15 Distin
18 Neville
23 Coleman
17 Cahill (Heitinga 69)
21 Osmanyellow card26 Rodwell (Bilyaletdinov 77)
08 Saha (Beckford 87)
Substitutes
01 Mucha, 05 Heitinga, 07 Bilyaletdinov, 16 Beckford, 19 Magaye Gueye, 28 Anichebe, 37 BaxterFulham
01 Schwarzer
03 Salcido
05 Hangeland
06 Baird
18 Hughes
13 Murphy
16 Duff (Kakuta 75)
20 Etuhu (Zamora 60)
23 Dempsey
08 Johnson (Gudjohnsen 84)
30 Dembele
Substitutes
12 Stockdale, 02 Kelly, 27 Greening, 29 Davies, 22 Gudjohnsen, 24 Kakuta, 25 ZamoraRef: Oliver
Att: 33,239
EVERTONFULHAMPossession
Everton 52%Fulham 48%Attempts on target
Everton 12Fulham 6Attempts off target
Everton 4Fulham 6Corners
Everton 7Fulham 5Fouls
Everton 15Fulham 19
http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/fulham-fcs-losses (http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/fulham-fcs-losses)
Fulham FC's losses up
Submitted by WG on Sat, 19/03/2011 - 19:01
Fulham FC's losses increased from £7.9m to £19m in the year ended June 2010. This was in spite of earning an extra £12.5m from their run to the Europa League final. Turnover was boosted to £76.4m, but write downs and amortisation from player trading boosted losses.
Mohamed al Fayed has made it clear that he is committed to providing the funds the football club needs. It is now funded entirely from his offshore family trust structure. A loan of nearly £13m was repaid in August of last year but the Fayed companies are still owed some £186m. £100m of that is due to start being repaid next year at an annual rate of £10m.
Mark Hughes BBC Video Interview -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9430430.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/9430430.stm)
David Moyes BBC Video Interview -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/9430418.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/9430418.stm)
Hughes' Everton Reaction
Saturday 19th March 2011
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Speaking after Saturday's Barclays Premier League defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, Manager Mark Hughes gave his post-match assessment.
"We gave ourselves too much to do," said Hughes after the game. "The manner of our first-half performance was too passive and Everton were allowed to dictate the game to us. In the second-half we were better in that respect but it was disappointing because we've played better than that lately.
"Invariably they [Everton] try to get out wide, they've got good quality in wider areas and they can get good quality balls into the box if you allow them to.
"Unfortunately that was the case for the first goal. The second one was just a freak goal from our point of view, it went through three people's legs and it was very difficult for Mark [Schwarzer] to adjust his position.
"At two-nil down it's a mountain to climb but we came back and showed a good response. We created a number of chances that, on another day, might have gone in for us. Unfortunately it wasn't to be and we ran out of time.
"In the second-half we engaged with them a lot more aggressively and stopped things at source which helped us. As a consequence, our performance improved in the second-half, but in the first-half we were too passive. If you don't start in the way you mean to go on then you can find yourself in a situation where you're behind in the game."
One bright note was second-half substitute Bobby Zamora, who made an immediate impact on proceedings, setting up Clint Dempsey's strike on 62 minutes.
"We made a change and almost instantly it paid dividends for us," Hughes said. "It's still early days for Bobby, he's still not quite ready to start games but he's going to benefit from a couple more weeks' training prior to our next Premier League game. By that time I would imagine he's very close to starting – so he just needs a little bit more work."
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/March/HughesEvertonReaction.aspx#ixzz1H80Qzkks (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/March/HughesEvertonReaction.aspx#ixzz1H80Qzkks)
Everton 2 - 1 Fulham
Mark Hughes retained the same starting eleven to play Everton on Saturday that beat Blackburn Rovers by three goals to two in Fulham's last Barclays Premier League encounter two weeks ago.
The man that earned Hughes' side all three points against Rovers, Bobby Zamora, took his place amongst Fulham's substitutes as he neared a return to full match fitness. Zamora was joined by Simon Davies, Jonathan Greening, Gael Kakuta, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Stephen Kelly and goalkeeper David Stockdale on the bench.
Fulham resided just two points behind ninth placed Everton prior to Saturday's 5:30pm kick-off. The home side were without two of their most influential players, Mikel Arteta and Marouane Fellaini due to long term injuries, but with the likes of Jack Rodwell, Tim Cahill and former Fulham striker Louis Saha, Everton's attacking threat remained potent.
With seven Premier League results confirmed ahead of Fulham's evening kick-off, Hughes' Team kicked-off knowing that a rare victory at Goodison Park would project Fulham into eighth place.
After a perfectly observed minute's silence for the victims of the recent natural disaster in Japan, the game got underway on an early spring evening on Merseyside. It was a quiet start on and off the pitch, with captains Murphy and Neville livening things up with a full-blooded challenge after five minutes in the middle of the park. Osman then fired in the first shot of the match three minutes later, but his left footed strike from the edge of the area flew harmlessly wide of Schwarzer's goal.
With Johnson and Dembele leading Fulham's line, there was no shortage of pace in the final third, and there were a few positive signs early on that space could be exploited behind Jagielka and Distin. Danny Murphy was looking to pull the strings from a deep midfield position and his partner in the middle of the park, Dickson Etuhu, appeared fully fit after a recent hamstring injury.
After 20 minutes of play Everton were arguably showing greater attacking intent, but Fulham had restricted the home side to two speculative shots from distance and a half-chance from an early corner. Mark Hughes' side had certainly silenced the crowd, which was strangely subdued.
Former Fulham favourite Louis Saha woke the home crowd up after 25 minutes with a shot from inside the area that was blocked by Chris Baird. Saha's effort marked the start of a sustained spell of pressure from the home side. Carlos Salcido was forced to clear off the line just after the half hour mark had passed as Everton consistently targeted Fulham's right flank.
The home side's pressure down their left hand side eventually proved telling with ten minutes of the first-half remaining. Another probing move down Everton's left resulted in a cross to the far post by Osman. Coleman was left unmarked at the far post to head across goal and into the corner of the net.
Fulham took the attacking initiative as the first half drew to a close with Clint Dempsey firing just wide of Howard's goal with barely a minute left. It was Fulham's first clear strike on goal of the game and during injury time Dempsey tried again with a sublime piece of skill on the edge of the area, but was denied by Coleman, who blocked the American's path to goal.
Both sides remained unchanged for the second-half and within five minutes of the restart Everton had doubled their lead through former Fulham striker Louis Saha. The home side earned an indirect free-kick 25 yards from goal after Etuhu had fouled Rodwell as he charged towards Fulham's 18-yard line. Saha stepped up and fired a low drive that arrowed into the bottom corner of the net. The precision and power of Saha's strike left Schwarzer with no chance.
Damien Duff attempted to pull a goal back for Fulham 10 minutes later with a drive from the edge of the area but Howard collected with ease. Just a few moments later Schwarzer was forced to produce a diving save to deny Coleman's long range effort. The game had certainly opened up following Everton's second as Fulham looked to recover lost ground.
Mark Hughes made the first change of the game with 30 minutes remaining, introducing Bobby Zamora for Dickson Etuhu. Clint Dempsey moved into central midfield alongside Danny Murphy with Mousa Dembele switching to the left flank. Zamora partnered Andrew Johnson in attack.
Zamora's introduction had an immediate impact, with Fulham reducing the deficit barely a minute later through Clint Dempsey. A cross from the right wing by Duff fell to Zamora on the 18 yard line and the striker's lay-off found Dempsey, who fired home his 10th goal of the season from the edge of the area.
Fulham were attacking in waves following Dempsey's goal with Zamora unsettling Everton's defence from the moment he entered the fray. David Moyes made his first change of the game with 20 minutes remaining, introducing John Heitinga for Tim Cahill.
Bobby Zamora looked on a one-man mission to turn the game on it's head. His pure physical presence and desire to upset Everton's back line was unsettling the home crowd who could sense the danger Zamora constantly posed.
With 15 minutes remaining Mark Hughes freshened up his attack with the introduction of Gael Kakuta for Damien Duff. Kakuta took his place on the left wing with Dembele switching to the right hand side. Fulham continued to press and ask serious questions of Everton's backline. The only break in Fulham's drive for an equaliser was when Salcido headed the ball clear off his own line with seven minutes remaining.
Hughes made his final change of the game with six minutes left on the clock. Andrew Johnson was replaced by Eidur Gudjohnsen, who lined up next to Zamora in attack. Moments later there was concern for Louis Saha who was stretchered from the field of play after challenging for a header in the middle of the park. David Moyes was forced to replace Saha with Jermaine Beckford.
Time was against Fulham as they continued to search for an equaliser. Just before the Fourth Official indicated five minutes of added time, Clint Dempsey struck a right footed attempt from the edge of the area that seared over Howard's bar.
During added time Fulham pinned Everton back and delivered wave after wave of attack but the home side's defence stood firm and David Moyes' side took all three points from Saturday's contest at Goodison Park
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/MatchCentre/Matches/1011/Premiership/EvertonAway.aspx#ixzz1H80lnQhL (http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/MatchCentre/Matches/1011/Premiership/EvertonAway.aspx#ixzz1H80lnQhL)
Everton Photo Special
Saturday 19th March 2011
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/March/EvertonPhotoSpecial.aspx (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/March/EvertonPhotoSpecial.aspx)
http://fulham.theoffside.com/team-news/everton-2-1-fulham.html
Everton 2-1 Fulham
By: Sam | March 19th, 2011
Sixty minutes in. Zamora comes on for Etuhu. Zamora, just inside the penalty box, lays the ball to Dempsey. Dempsey shoots, he aims it low and into the net. Everton restart. Fulham begin to play as if they could grab another. Was a comeback on the cards?
Nope. Two Everton goals were enough to carry them to their eighteenth home victory in a row against Fulham. Everton's first goal came from a Leon Osman cross that found the head of an unmarked Seamus Coleman. The closest Fulham player was Carlos Salcido but he was marking Tim Cahill. After the goal was scored Salcido showed a frustration in the lack of marking in the area.
A few minutes after the second half started, Everton got their second. Leighton Baines laid the ball to Louis Saha from a free-kick near the edge of the Fulham box. Saha shot the ball straight through Fulham's wall. Two-nil and Everton looked comfortable.
But Fulham weren't going to give up that easily. Mark Hughes threw on attacker after attacker. First Zamora, then Gudjohnsen and finally Kakuta. Fulham moved the ball well after Dempsey's goal and had a ten minute spell where a second goal looked likely. But the spell faded and Everton began to look hungry for a third – Salcido forced to make a second goal-line clearance, this time from an Osman header.
Fulham's search for an equaliser returned as they mounted some pressure in the closing stage of the match. In the last of five added minutes Danny Murphy took a corner – maybe a Brede Hangeland header could clinch a comeback, again. Everton cleared from the corner and were happy to hear the final whistle blown. They are now two points off a Europa League spot. Fulham, however, tread close to the relegation zone with three points separating them from Wolves in 18th place. But then four teams are also all level on one point above Wolves. So nothing to worry about, too much. Just to expect a mid-table finish.
Apart from the score, it was a shame to see Louis Saha stretchered off the pitch injured in the 87th minute. He challenged for a header with Hangeland and landed awkwardly. It didn't look like much but he looked in real pain. Here's to a quick recovery for him.
http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162,14320_6823947,00.html (http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162,14320_6823947,00.html)
KG: Mbazo will be missed
South Africa midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi admits former captain Aaron Mokoena will be missed following his omission from the squad to face Egypt next week.
Coach Pitso Mosimane decided against calling up the 30-year-old Portsmouth defender who is South Africa's most-capped player, with Morgan Gould or Siyabonga Sangweni expected to replace him on Saturday against The Pharaohs.
And Dikgacoi, who will link up with the rest of the Bafana squad following struggling Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw with Derby County, revealed his surprise that 'Mbazo' had been dropped.
"Aaron will be missed because he was the key player in the team," the 26-year-old told Football365.co.za.
"He always added value and was a good leader that a lot of the players looked up to. But then it is the manager who is the one to decide who to pick so we just have to carry on without him."
After featuring for just four minutes for his parent club Fulham this season, Dikgacoi has been an ever-present for Palace and scored the winner in a recent win over Cardiff City - his first goal since moving to England in August 2009.
With regular game-time under his belt, 'KG' has been tipped to earn a recall to Mosimane's starting line-up for The Pharaohs showdown.
"I am looking forward to the game against Egypt - it's a big match and want to take part in helping the team to win it," Dikgacoi said.
"I believe we stand a good chance of getting the result because we have a home ground advantage and the opponents have had difficulties in their country that might have an effect on their game. We know it's not going to be an easy game but hopefully we can do it."
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/03/19/2402579/phil-jagielka-relieved-after-everton-hold-on-to-defeat
Phil Jagielka relieved after Everton hold on to defeat Fulham
Defender insists he felt no pressure with Fabio Capello in stands
By Mike Allen
19 Mar 2011 21:19:00
Phil Jagielka admits Everton almost let a two-goal lead slip after allowing Fulham back into the game as the Toffees secured a 2-1 victory which has taken them into the top eight of the Premier League.
After Seamus Coleman opened the scoring in the first half, Louis Saha doubled the lead shortly after the restart and Jagielka was pleased to see his side hold on after Climp Dempsey's goal signalled a Fulham riposte.
"We came out in the second half with a perfect start, obviously with Louis' goal but unfortunately we couldn't keep the 2-0 lead for long and we like to do things the hard way, but thankfully we've got the three points," Jagielka told ESPN.
The defender almost got himself on the scoresheet after watching his late header cleared off the line by Carlos Salcido and with Fabio Capello watching in the stands, Jagielka insists he felt no extra pressure to perform with Italian about to name his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
"I probably should have scored anyway but I'm not bothered now anyway we won 2-1 so everybody's happy," he said.
"No, I didn't feel pressure - I think he's got a pretty good idea what his squad will be.
"Obviously when you know he's there you try and put in a half decent performance and hopefully I did that and we'll obviously just have to wait until Sunday and see what the squad is."
Coleman who opened the scoring for the Toffees with a powerful header gave an impressive display and the defender admits he was pleased his recent performances have been rewarded with a goal.
"I've had a few chances in the last couple of games at the back post and the keepers pulled out a couple of saves but I was lucky enough today that it went in in the end and thank god we won," he stated.
The 23-year-old believes he is improving with regular Premier League football.
"I'd like to think so," he said. "I'd like to think I've come on lots since the start of the season but I've still got a lot to learn and playing with these players every week can always help.
"Going into the international break we definitely needed to get the win and hopefully from here we can kick on with the last couple of games and get more wins."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6823955,00.html
Moyes has flashbacks
Saha to have X-ray on injured ankle
Last updated: 19th March 2011
Everton manager David Moyes had flashbacks to his first match in charge of the Goodison Park club during Saturday's win over Fulham.
The Scot is beginning his 10th year in charge of the Merseyside outfit and marked the occasion with a repeat of a 2-1 success over the Cottagers in March 2002.
Everton's win, courtesy of goals from Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha, which rendered Clint Dempsey's later effort as a consolation, lifts them onto 40 points in the Premier League and they were deserved, if slightly anxious, winners.
Moyes said: "There was a similarity - we went ahead, they got back and it was a bit tense.
"It is a dangerous result 2-0 - the Premier League is not letting any games be won easily, by any side.
Grind
"It was a good victory, we had to grind it out. We are missing a lot of key players.
"My job is to try to find a way of winning."
Everton are now eighth in a congested table, eight points above the relegation zone and looking to finish a disappointing campaign with a flourish.
Moyes added: "Most years at Everton we have been up there, so we have not got any real reason to look down.
"Unfortunately the form we have been in has made us think we might have to, but we are grinding our way out of it.
Downside
"I don't know if it will be enough but I would hope we take some more points before the end of the season."
The only downside for Everton was the loss of top scorer Saha on a stretcher in the closing minutes after the Frenchman landed awkwardly.
Moyes is already without key midfielder Marouane Fellaini for the rest of the season and playmaker Mikel Arteta for a prolonged period.
The Everton boss said: "It looks as if he landed heavily on his ankle. We will get him X-rayed and see how he is.
"He had a hamstring problem - we were just about to substitute him when he went up for that header and landed awkwardly."
http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/03/19/zamora-fitness-key-for-fulham-says-mark-hughes-64767-28367994/
Zamora fitness key for Fulham, says Mark Hughes
Mar 19 2011
By Yann Tear
(http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/ealinggazette/jan2011/2/9/mark-hughes-image-2-732980366.jpg)
MARK HUGHES says Fulham badly need Bobby Zamora back to full fitness so the striker can play a bigger role for the Whites in the remainder of the season.
The striker came on after an hour at Everton and almost immediately set up a goal for Clint Dempsey which nearly sparked a revival.
"Almost immediately, he gave us more focus to our attacks, more physicality," the Fulham boss said.
"He's not quite ready to start games at the moment, but you see the difference when he does play. We need to get him back and firing.
"In the second half, we were much better, but we conceded a goal either side of the half-time break and that made it really difficult for us."
Hughes added: "First half, I was a bit disappointed with what we produced. I thought we were a little bit too passive and I thought Everton were more aggressive towards us and dictated to us and we had to address that, which I thought we did in the second half, but in the end we just ran out of time."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6823976,00.html
Hughes demands more
But Londoners boss was pleased with second-half display
Last updated: 19th March 2011
Fulham manager Mark Hughes acknowledges that his side cannot afford to perform at anything other than their peak.
A 2-1 defeat at Everton on Saturday evening leaves the Londoners with work to do to ensure they do not get dragged into a Premier League relegation battle.
With eight games remaining, Fulham are only three points above 18th-placed Wolves and Hughes, who has been linked with Bayern Munich, was disappointed with the first-half display.
Seamus Coleman scored in the 36th minute and former Fulham striker Louis Saha struck his club's second goal through a congested penalty area at a free-kick four minutes after half-time.
Clint Dempsey ensured that Everton did not cruise to victory, but Hughes said: "It was difficult for us to get out but we can play better than we did in the first half.
Force the issue
"We showed that in the second half but conceded a very unlucky goal (Saha's) - it went through about three players' legs and Mark Schwarzer was unable to keep it out.
"At 2-0 down, not playing particularly well, we made a change and got Bobby (Zamora) on and that seemed to help.
"We got back into the game at 2-1 and were forcing the issue towards the end of the game.
"We looked the better team because of that but you can't just play for 45 minutes. You have to play for the full 90.
"In the end we couldn't get that equaliser that certainly our second-half performance deserved."
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3284719,00.html
Everton avoid complacency
Goalscorer Saha stretchered from the field in the closing minutes
Last updated: 19th March 2011
Moment of the match: Clint Dempsey's effort swung the momentum Fulham's way but they were unable to exploit their greater possession in the second half.
Attempt of the match: Phil Jagielka had a header cleared off the line by Fulham's Carlos Salcido.
Save of the match: Everton's Tim Cahill floated a delightful ball over the top, intended for Louis Saha, but Mark Schwarzer was alert and hacked the ball clear after racing out of his box.
Talking point: Saha was stretchered off after landing badly from an aerial battle.
Goal of the match: Dempsey pulled one back for Fulham with a clinical finish inside the box after being teed up by a neat off-load by Bobby Zamora following Damien Duff's cross from the right..
A 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday evening reflected Everton manager David Moyes' determination to avoid complacency in the closing weeks of the season as the Scot began his 10th year in charge with a win.
The Goodison Park club still have a faint chance of catching fifth-placed Tottenham, who are nine points ahead with a game in hand, to ensure there are lingering thoughts of a place in Europe in what has generally been considered an underachieving season.
A first-half Seamus Coleman header and Louis Saha's second-half goal ensured that Clint Dempsey's later effort was only a small highlight for Fulham manager Mark Hughes.
Everton's victory was shrouded by the sight of injury-prone goalscorer Saha being stretchered from the field in the closing minutes after landing awkwardly in an aerial challenge against his former club.
Everton were always the dominant side and fully deserved to repeat their victory over the Cottagers in Moyes' first match just over nine years ago.
The Toffees had welcomed back captain Phil Neville and the influential Tim Cahill from injury.
Neville played in midfield in the absence of Mikel Arteta while Cahill was pushed up front with Saha. Tony Hibbert, a survivor from Moyes' opening game, was at right-back.
Opportunity
Fulham were unchanged from their last outing against Blackburn a fortnight ago after Dickson Etuhu overcame a hamstring strain.
The game lacked bite early on but Everton had the better of the play, with Leon Osman curling an effort over and Leighton Baines dragging a shot across goal.
Fulham had an opportunity when Neville bundled former Everton striker Andy Johnson over on the edge of the box but the free-kick came to nothing.
Saha threatened with a run up the middle but Brede Hangeland denied him with a fine tackle.
Saha had another opportunity when he rose to meet a Baines corner but his header bounced and Salcido calmly headed off the line.
Baines then delivered a fine cross for Jack Rodwell but the midfielder's header did not test Mark Schwarzer.
Everton made the breakthrough after Cahill had a shot blocked and the ball rolled out to Baines on the left.
Baines cut it back inside for Osman and the midfielder lifted a cross to the back post for Coleman to place a firm header back across goal and beyond Schwarzer.
Spark
The game at last had the spark it needed and moments later Coleman was stopped in full flow on the edge of the area but the resulting free-kick from Baines was blocked.
Fulham had to wait until first-half injury time for their first serious opportunity as Dempsey shot narrowly wide after good work by Johnson.
Everton took a firm grip on the game four minutes into the second half after Rodwell was brought down just outside the area by Etuhu.
Baines tapped the free-kick to Saha and the Frenchman blasted a low free-kick through the wall for his 10th goal of the season.
Fulham tried to respond but Etuhu's shot into a crowded area was blocked and Damien Duff fired the rebound straight at Tim Howard.
The tempo was much quicker than in the first half and Coleman forced a good save from Schwarzer with a strong run and shot from distance.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes decided to make a change and was instantly rewarded after sending on Bobby Zamora, still being eased back into action after a broken leg, for Etuhu just before the hour.
Zamora, with his back to goal, brilliantly laid off a cross from Duff and the inrushing Dempsey struck a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Jagielka almost made the game safe for Everton with an inch-perfect header but Salcido did brilliantly to again head away from just inside the post.
Zamora failed to make the most of a headed chance at the other end after being picked out by Gael Kakuta.
Saha's afternoon ended in agony in the closing minutes after landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge.
He was replaced by Jermaine Beckford, who spurned a good chance to add a third on the break in injury time.
Everton
Team Statistics
Fulham
2 Goals
1
1 1st Half Goals
0
5 Shots on Target
2
2 Shots off Target
6
8 Blocked Shots
6
7 Corners
5
15 Fouls
19
1 Offsides
2
2 Yellow Cards
0
0 Red Cards
0
74.6 Passing Success
76.8
23 Tackles
23
56.5 Tackles Success
65.2
44.6 Possession
55.4
49.2 Territorial Advantage
50.8
EVERTON 2 - FULHAM 1: LOUIS SAHA GIVES DAVID MOYES HIS PARTY GIFT
Seamus Coleman's header had given Everton a half-time lead
Sunday March 20,2011
By Mike Whalley
IT took a while for David Moyes' anniversary party to get going. But Louis Saha made sure that everything turned out all right in the end.
Saha's free-kick proved decisive as Moyes marked nine years in charge at Goodison Park with exactly the same result that began his reign in March 2002.
On that day, Saha was playing up front for Fulham as Everton's manager enjoyed a 2-1 home win.
The years in between have been full of ups and downs for Moyes – with the highs including a couple of memorable European runs and an FA Cup final appearance.
Things haven't been quite so rosy this season, which has fizzled out thanks to an inability to finish teams off and injuries to key players.
Last night, after Seamus Coleman's header had given Everton a half-time lead, Saha's free-kick against his former club looked to have set up a comfortable win.
But Clint Dempsey's goal just past the hour mark made for a jittery finish. And it was a painful finish for Saha, stretchered off after falling awkwardly in a collision with Brede Hangeland.
Moyes can ill-afford another injury, having already lost Mikel Arteta and Marouane Fellaini to long-term setbacks.
Moyes said: "Louis landed heavily on his ankle. We'll get him X-rayed and see how he is.
"We're missing a lot of key players. We had to grind it out."
But the Everton manager was at least able to celebrate a victory which should end any lingering talk of relegation trouble.
You can't say the same for Fulham, who sit just three points above the relegation zone.
Their manager Mark Hughes, linked with Bayern Munich in the week, could be forgiven for having envious thoughts of a move to Germany.
He said: "We gave ourselves too much to do. We were too passive in the first half."
It was 24 minutes before there was so much as a shot on target, with a Saha effort blocked by Chris Baird.
That was the prelude to a decent spell of Everton pressure, which culminated in their first goal.
Leon Osman turned away from Danny Murphy on the left to create space for a cross, and Coleman escaped the attentions of Carlos Salcido to head in at the far post.
Fulham, up to that point, had shown about as much life as the Michael Jackson statue that owner Mohamed Al Fayed wants to put up at Craven Cottage.
They did, though, start to show signs of improvement in the closing stages of the half. Dempsey cut into the Everton area from the left, and might have equalised but for Phil Neville's block.
Hughes might have hoped his team would build on that in the second half. That hope was quickly extinguished.
Dickson Etuhu fouled Jack Rodwell on the edge of the area and when Baines touched the ball short, Saha's shot went straight through the wall – as Danny Murphy appeared to move – leaving Mark Schwarzer unsighted and helpless. Hughes brought on Bobby Zamora in an attempt to inject some life into his flailing side. And within a couple of minutes, it did the trick.
The striker, back after five months out with a broken leg, laid off Damien Duff's right-wing cross for Dempsey to drive in from the edge of the area.
Fulham had plenty of pressure, but Tim Howard was largely untroubled.
The visitors, who have now lost 18 successive league games at Goodison, didn't spoil the party. Moyes will have been glad of that.
Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/235627/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-gives-David-Moyes-his-party-gift/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-gives-David-Moyes-his-party-gift#ixzz1H85BzIuX (http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/235627/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-gives-David-Moyes-his-party-gift/Everton-2-Fulham-1-Louis-Saha-gives-David-Moyes-his-party-gift#ixzz1H85BzIuX)
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3479179/Everton-2-Fulham-1.html (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3479179/Everton-2-Fulham-1.html)
Everton 2 Fulham 1
Published: 19 Mar 2011
Add a comment (1)
LOUIS SAHA struck the winner as Everton held off a spirited Fulham comeback.
Winger Seamus Coleman put the Toffees ahead before Saha doubled the lead shortly after the break.
But Clint Dempsey offered the Cottagers some hope with a 62nd-minute effort.
However, despite a late flurry of chances, Mark Hughes' men could not find a leveller.
The win moves Everton up to eighth in the Premier League while Fulham are just three points above the relegation zone.
Coleman and Saha's goals meant David Moyes began his 10th year as Everton boss as his started his first — by beating Fulham.
The Scot said: "We let them back into it a little from 2-0, I don't know if we came off the gas or if Fulham upped their game.
"When they got the goal it was tough, they had a lot of the ball and we had to dig in but with the players we had out there in that situation we knew we could do that."
Moyes also had praise for Coleman. He added: "He's been a little bit up and down of late but he's growing and he's still a young boy in footballing terms.
The only sour note for Everton was the sight of Saha coming off on a stretcher after an awkward fall.
Moyes said: "He signalled to the bench just before about his hamstring, so I don't know if its something different."
The game lacked bite early on but Everton had the better of the play, with Leon Osman curling an effort over and Leighton Baines dragging a shot across goal.
Saha had an opportunity when he rose to meet a Baines corner but his header bounced and Salcido calmly headed off the line.
Baines then delivered a fine cross for Jack Rodwell but the midfielder's header did not test Mark Schwarzer.
Everton made the breakthrough after Tim Cahill had a shot blocked and the ball rolled out to Baines on the left.
Baines cut it back inside for Osman and the midfielder lifted a cross to the back the post for Coleman to place a firm header back across goal and beyond Schwarzer.
The game at last had the spark it needed but Fulham had to wait until first-half injury time for their first serious opportunity.
Dempsey shot narrowly wide after good work by Andy Johnson.
Everton took a firm grip on the game four minutes into the second half after Rodwell was brought down just outside the area by Etuhu.
Baines tapped the free-kick to Saha and the Frenchman blasted a low free-kick through the wall for his 10th goal of the season.
Fulham tried to respond but Etuhu's shot into a crowded area was blocked and Damien Duff fired the rebound straight at Tim Howard.
The tempo was much quicker than in the first half and Coleman forced a good save from Schwarzer with a strong run and shot from distance.
Hughes decided to make a change and was instantly rewarded after sending on Bobby Zamora for Etuhu just before the hour.
Zamora, with his back to goal, brilliantly laid off a cross from Duff and the inrushing Dempsey struck a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Phil Jagielka almost made the game safe for Everton with an inch-perfect header but Salcido did brilliantly to again head away from just inside the post.
Zamora failed to make the most of a headed chance at the other end after being picked out by Gael Kakuta.
Saha's afternoon ended in agony in the closing minutes after he landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge.
He was replaced by Jermaine Beckford, who spurned a good chance to add a third on the break in injury time.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Rodwell (Bilyaletdinov 77), Neville, Osman, Cahill (Heitinga 69), Saha (Beckford 87). Subs Not Used: Mucha, Gueye, Anichebe, Baxter. Booked: Osman, Hibbert. Goals: Coleman 36, Saha 49.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Duff (Kakuta 75), Murphy, Etuhu (Zamora 60), Dempsey, Dembele, Johnson (Gudjohnsen 84). Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Kelly, Greening, Davies. Goals: Dempsey 62.
Att: 33,239
Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19032011/63/hughes-deserved-point.html (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19032011/63/hughes-deserved-point.html)
Hughes: We deserved a point
Sat, 19 Mar 21:19:48 2011
Fulham boss Mark Hughes felt his side deserved to take a draw from their 2-1 defeat at Everton.
The result leaves Fulham with work to do to ensure they do not get dragged into a relegation battle and with eight games remaining, the Londoners are only three points above 18th-placed Wolves.
Hughes said: "It was difficult for us to get out but we can play better than we did in the first half.
"We showed that in the second half but conceded a very unlucky goal - it went through about three players' legs and Mark Schwarzer was unable to keep it out.
"We looked the better team because of that but you can't just play for 45 minutes. You have to play for the full 90.
"In the end we couldn't get that equaliser that certainly our second half performance deserved."
http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/everton-2-1-fulham/ (http://cravencottagenewsround.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/everton-2-1-fulham/)
Everton 2-1 Fulham
Filed under: Match reports — rich @ 8:17 pm
Go north, try hard, lose. The annual Goodison defeat is out of the way and we are now free to concentrate on more plausible opponents, such as Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers.
Fulham were poor in the first half. We couldn't keep the ball, we didn't do especially well getting it off Everton. Then they scored a poor goal to go ahead, the specifics eluding me at this point but for whatever reason Hangeland wasn't part of a back four that needed all four members at the time, and poor Carlos Salcido was left with Tim Cahill and Seamus Coleman to deal with. Cahill was alone in the middle of the six yard box so Salcido probably had to go to him, but the ball soared on over them both and Coleman was free to do what he wanted, and his header back across goal was good enough to beat Schwarzer. Bah.
Just as we thought a second half comeback might be on the cards, Louis Saha hit a rocket to make it 2-0. The "rocket" descriptor is over-used in football, but seriously, this one did fly as if Saha had attached something explosive to the back of it. The ball just *went*. Wowzers. There remains a good argument that if Saha could play 38 games a season he'd be about as good a centre-forward as there is.
Problems for Fulham then. The second half was much better, but as we've said before, no use getting aggressive when the fight's over, is there? Hughes introduced Zamora, whose first touch set up Dempsey, who slid a left footed drive past Howard from the edge of the box. Nice. But there was no more from there. We had all sorts of possession, but Everton know what they're doing at the back and another always looked unlikely.
And so it went. Hughes sent for Kakuta and Gudjohnsen to thoroughly overload the attacking end of the field, but still nothing. Dembele screwed a shot wide, Zamora headed wide, but Everton weren't unduly bothered. Salcido cleared off the line for a second time, Schwarzer made a couple of neat saves, but, well, anyway... we've lost at Everton again. No sense getting upset about these things; it was never going to be any other way.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/everton-defeat-leaves-fulham-again-looking-over-their-shoulders-1517621 (http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/everton-defeat-leaves-fulham-again-looking-over-their-shoulders-1517621)
Everton defeat leaves Fulham again looking over their shoulders
20.03.11 | tribalfootball.com
Fulham boss Mark Hughes admits defeat to Everton has them looking over their shoulder at the dropzone.
With eight games remaining, the Londoners are only three points above 18th-placed Wolves.
Hughes said: "It was difficult for us to get out but we can play better than we did in the first half.
"We showed that in the second half but conceded a very unlucky goal - it went through about three players' legs and Mark Schwarzer was unable to keep it out.
"At 2-0 down, not playing particularly well, we made a change and got Bobby (Zamora) on and that seemed to help.
"We got back into the game at 2-1 and were forcing the issue towards the end of the game.
"We looked the better team because of that but you can't just play for 45 minutes. You have to play for the full 90.
"In the end we couldn't get that equaliser that certainly our second half performance deserved."
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/03/20/fulham-run-the-rule-over-juventus-alex-manninger/39189/ (http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/03/20/fulham-run-the-rule-over-juventus-alex-manninger/39189/)
http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_6842_everton-2-1-fulham-à(http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_6842_everton-2-1-fulham-%C3%83%C6%92%C3%82)¢Ã,€Ã,Â"-toffees-edge-even-encounter.html
Everton 2-1 Fulham – Toffees edge even encounter
By Peter McVitie
Sunday 20 March 2011
Everton picked up three points and jumped to eighth place in the Premier League after a Jekyll & Hyde performance which saw them defeat Fulham 2-1 on Saturday evening.
Goals from Seamus Coleman and Louis Saha were enough to see off the Cottagers and put the Toffees eight points above the relegation zone.
David Moyes's side dominated most of the first half and could have had the game wrapped up by half-time if it weren't for the solid Fulham back line. The second half, however, belonged to the visitors and Mark Hughes's men did well to reduce the deficit with a lovely goal from Clint Dempsey, but no matter how hard they pressed in the second period, they could not grab an equaliser.
The Merseyside team moved the ball around well in the first half as Fulham gifted them far too much room in the middle of the park. Everton found no great difficulty in getting past the London side's midfield but struggled to break through the solid white defence and create trouble for Mark Schwarzer.
The Cottagers' defence put in a solid performance and kept Everton at bay for the most part of the game, but it was a defensive slip up which led to the opening goal when Carlos Salcido failed to pick up Coleman on the back post and the Irishman had all the time in the world to pick his spot and head Leon Osman's perfectly weighted cross into the net.
The visitors' midfield was very poor; Dickson Etuhu offered nothing going forward and despite Clint Dempsey's well taken goal, he did not create enough chances for the two front men. Damien Duff was rather sluggish when running at the Everton wing-backs and although Danny Murphy played well in the second-half, he could be blamed for creating a gap in the wall when closing down Saha after the free-kick which led directly to the Blues' second goal. In addition, the former Liverpool man was never on the same frequency as strikers Andy Johnson and Moussa Dembele.
Fulham have clearly been missing the pace and intelligent runs of Bobby Zamora up front as was proven immediately after the former West Ham United striker's introduction to the game, as he played a key role in the away side's goal, bringing the ball under control and setting up Dempsey, all with one perfect touch.
Tim Cahill looked rather tired when leaving the field but had a good game upon his return from injury; his pace and skill created a few problems for the Fulham centre-backs Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes and with the removal of Cahill went the sting of the Everton attacks. The Australian was swapped for defender John Heitinga and for the remaining 20 minutes Everton sat back and tried to hold on to their lead. Without midfield maestro Mikel Arteta, Everton had to rely on Phil Neville to pull the strings. The former Man Utd defender made some key passes from the centre of the park and overall his performance was very good, especially considering he was played out of position.
The game was fast moving and very entertaining for the neutral with three cracking goals and some lovely passing moves from both sides. Everton and Fulham played well and although the Toffees failed to kill the game off, they will walk away the happier side with the three desired points and a place in the top eight.
http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_2_6847_hughes'-talk-of-european-football-for-fulham-premature.html
Hughes' talk of European football for Fulham premature
By Matt Domm
Sunday 20 March 2011
Mark Hughes' recent comments regarding his aims for more European football with Fulham - with the FIFA Fair Play league being the best chance, despite holding an outside chance of a qualifying league finish - appear, at least on Saturday's evidence, quite a way off in reality.
The Welshman believes he can achieve more with the Cottagers than he did whilst at Blackburn Rovers, having inherited a stronger squad, although looking at the performance at Goodison Park his team are far from consistent enough to be considered regular top-10 finishers. As a manager, positive thinking should not be discouraged, but with his side still plenty of points away from safety, all efforts should arguably be focused on keeping the team a safe distance from the relegation spots.
A handful of away wins during a campaign is a must for a team to end the season in the European spots. Qualification through fair play is all well and good, but to win away, especially in game such as yesterday's where the home team is less than impressive, often robustness in the midfield and attack is required. Against Everton, the Whites were sluggish and lightweight throughout - at least until Bobby Zamora's introduction - and were never likely to get anything from the game.
Hughes' Blackburn side were swift, direct and powerful going forward, both home and away, with a hard-working midfield and skilful wide men. Hughes' claim to have inherited a stronger squad is questionable after yesterday's away performance, and indeed many before that. Enough areas require strengthening to make regular high Premier League finishes unlikely without additions and replacements to the squad.
Teams who challenge for the European places generally have a combative and creative midfield, particularly in the centre. Without Steve Sidwell, who has shown tenacity since joining in January, Fulham's has lost all its robustness. Dickson Etuhu, for a man with such a surface area, has the tendency to avoid the physical work - particularly in comparison to Sidwell - and lacks the passing vision or ability of the former Aston Villa man. Against Everton, the central attacking responsibility was on Danny Murphy while Etuhu was largely a bystander, as opposed to when Sidwell chips in attacking-wise too. Murphy cannot and should not be expected to perform the job of two men every game, and the lack of depth in the other midfield slot looks a concern.
Further forward, Clint Dempsey does not mind getting stuck in, but he lacks the strength of Zamora, and alongside Andy Johnson the partnership will not overcome solid home defences. Similarly, Moussa Dembele is not a foil for the small front-man. Johnson, for all his running and energy, is unlikely to win a duel against a tough centre-back and therefore needs a Zamora to play off to be most effective. If Hughes, looking forward, intends to use a sole striker with a fluid three in behind, which is an option, Johnson might begin to struggle for a look in.
While Fulham should have enough about them to survive this year, without changes to a team that has not taken well enough to Hughes' style of football any talk of consistent top-half finishes appears somewhat hopeful.
