Everton came from behind to record a 3-1 victory over Fulham in Saturday afternoon’s Premier League contest at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had a 17th-minute lead in front of their own supporters, with Raul Jimenez‘s powerful header ending up in the back of the net, but the response from Everton came shortly before the half-time whistle, with Vitalii Mykolenko‘s effort being deflected into the goal.
Everton then scored twice in the space of three minutes through Michael Keane and Beto to take charge of the contest, and there was to be no response from a Fulham side that have seen their European hopes all but come to an end.
The result has left Fulham in 11th spot in the Premier League table, boasting 51 points from their 36 matches, while Everton have risen a place into 13th, with the Toffees in excellent form since David Moyes‘s return as head coach.
SPORTS MOLE’S VERDICT
Moyes has now won six, drawn seven and lost five of his 18 matches since returning to Everton in January, and the signs are incredibly bright for next season, with the Toffees looking to move on from what has been a difficult period.
Everton entered Saturday’s match having won just one of their last 10 matches, but Fulham had been beaten in three of their last four, so the Merseyside giants would not have been too concerned even when they fell behind to a Jimenez header.
It was the type of end-of-season match that could easily have drifted to a draw, but Keane’s header came at a vital time, and then Everton had a huge slice of luck when Beto’s effort was allowed to find the bottom corner, with Bernd Leno making a huge mistake.
Everton had been in serious relegation trouble when Moyes returned, sitting just one point above the bottom three, but the Scot has been able to lead the team up into 13th.
As for Fulham, their hopes of securing European football for next season have been extinguished in recent weeks, and head coach Marco Silva is facing a vital summer in terms of recruitment.
FULHAM VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
17th min: Fulham 1-0 Everton (Raul Jimenez)
Fulham make the breakthrough in the 17th minute of the contest, and the goal comes from Jimenez, with the striker heading a cross from Emile Smith Rowe into the back of the net; it is a terrific effort from the Mexican.
45th min: Fulham 1-1 Everton (Vitalii Mykolenko)
Everton level the scores in the latter stages of the first period at Craven Cottage, as Mykolenko’s effort from outside the box takes a deflection and ends up in the back of the net.
70th min: Fulham 1-2 Everton (Michael Keane)
Everton take the lead in the 70th minute of the contest in London, and it is Keane on the scoresheet, with the experienced defender heading a corner from Dwight McNeil into the back of the net.
73rd min: Fulham 1-3 Everton (Beto)
Everton score again, three minutes after their second, with Beto sweeping one into the bottom corner following a quick counter-attack, but Fulham goalkeeper Leno should have kept it out.
MAN OF THE MATCH – MICHAEL KEANE
Keane has faced criticism this season, and this was just his 12th Premier League appearance of the campaign, but he made his point to head coach Moyes with an excellent performance in the middle of the Everton defence.
The 32-year-old found the back of the net with a brilliant header, but it was his overall display that impressed the most, with the Englishman winning three aerial duels and also finishing with a pass success rate of 90%.
FULHAM VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Fulham 64%-36% Everton
Shots: Fulham 18-11 Everton
Shots on target: Fulham 6-7 Everton
Corners: Fulham 5-5 Everton
Fouls: Fulham 5-5 Everton
WHAT NEXT?
Fulham will be bidding to return to winning ways when they head to Brentford for a West London derby next Sunday.
Everton, meanwhile, will be aiming to put another three points on the board when they host already-relegated Southampton on the same afternoon.
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