Everton overcome Fulham to claim first win in four matches

Everton got back on course with their first win in four Premier League matches thanks to a 2-0 victory over Fulham, in a game in which David Moyes’ team also had three goals disallowed.

The Toffees entered Saturday’s contest at Hill Dickinson Stadium on a run of just one win in eight games across all competitions, with a trip to Old Trafford up next, but they delivered a much-needed positive performance to move on to 15 points going into the international break.

Thierno Barry and James Tarkwoski had goals disallowed for offside before Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

An improved second-half display from Fulham, combined with another disallowed effort, this time from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, saw some nerves set in among the home faithful, but those concerns were eased when Michael Keane doubled Everton’s lead.

Everton climb to 11th, four points and as many places above Fulham, who have lost five of their last six league games and are now just one point above the relegation zone.

How the match unfolded

The hosts had the first chance when Iliman Ndiaye delivered a wonderful left-footed cross from which Barry headed wide.

Everton then saw two goals ruled out, both for offside, with Barry’s close-range finish and a thumping Tarkowski volley chalked off, but it was third time lucky in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Tarkowski’s header bounced off the crossbar, and though Tim Iroegbunam scuffed his follow-up, Gueye was on hand to prod home.

Everton were frustrated again early in the second half when Dewsbury-Hall slotted in, with Barry deemed to have challenged an opponent for the ball while in an offside position in the build-up.

Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz nearly made an instant impact on the hour mark, with his low strike kept out by Jordan Pickford, before Ndiaye made a last-ditch block to deny Kevin.

Yet the second goal Everton craved finally arrived in the 81st minute, as Keane headed in from Dewsbury-Hall’s inswinging corner.

Barry leads much-improved Everton display

Barry had a strange game against Sunderland on Monday. Handed just his third Premier League start, the Frenchman played excellently in the opening exchanges, but he then squandered a golden chance, got booked and was substituted not long into the second half.

However, Moyes stuck with his summer signing here, and Barry delivered his best display so far in an Everton shirt, albeit one missing a goal.

The header that he steered off-target early on was not an easy chance, and the striker showed some slick hold-up play when he laid it off for Dewsbury-Hall soon after, with Bernd Leno tested by James Garner from the resulting free-kick.

Barry was unfortunate with that tight offside call in the first half, when Ndiaye had just strayed beyond the line, but Everton were left to bemoan more of those marginal decisions – Barry was involved again when he flicked out a leg just before Dewsbury-Hall struck in the 53rd minute, but he did so from an offside position.

A goal would have been a just reward for a fine individual display in midfield from Dewsbury-Hall, though the midfielder at least got an assist when he picked out Keane, who netted for the second time in as many games against Fulham.

Watch: Dewsbury-Hall's performance v Fulham

Moyes' men can take confidence from this victory ahead of a trip to Manchester United – who are unbeaten in five games – after the international break.

Silva left with plenty to ponder

Goodison Park had proved something of a happy hunting ground for Fulham in recent years, with the Cottagers unbeaten in their last four visits to Everton’s old ground.

However, Everton’s new home did not afford them the same luxury, and former Toffees boss Marco Silva will be disappointed with a largely lacklustre showing.

Fulham were extremely flat in attack in the first half, with Everton winning the midfield battle – Gueye’s opener had been coming for some time, and matters might have been worse for the visitors had Sasa Lukic picked up a second yellow card when he tugged down Dewsbury-Hall to cynically stop a counter-attack.

Josh King’s half-time introduction in place of Lukic certainly sparked Fulham into life. The youngster immediately drew Pickford into a parry before teeing up Harry Wilson and Muniz for shots at goal.

King’s influence faded, though, with Muniz forced off with an apparent injury just 17 minutes after coming on. His replacement Adama Traore also tested Pickford, but Fulham’s defensive frailties came back to bite them when Keane beat his markers to score from Dewsbury-Hall’s delivery.

Fulham’s sole top-flight win since September came against lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers, and they may be casting a cautious eye over their shoulders as they prepare to face Sunderland after the international window.

Club reports

Everton report | Fulham report

What the managers said

David Moyes: "I thought we played well enough to win the game, but Fulham were a threat. We warranted the win. While it was 1-0, Fulham were a threat. I thought we grew back into the game and got the second goal. Today was tight, but we just about deserved it."

Marco Silva: "I think we got what we deserved. We played the first 20 mins of the second half - nothing more. It's not good enough at all. We didn't cope. It's a moment for us to blame ourselves and look at ourselves in the mirror."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Fulham have lost five consecutive away Premier League games for just the second time under Silva, after also doing so between November 2023 – January 2024.

Everton have recorded their first home Premier League victory over Fulham since September 2018, with the Toffees having failed to win each of their previous four on home soil against the Cottagers (D1 L3).

Gueye has scored two goals across his last seven Premier League games for Everton, as many strikes as in his previous 46 appearances in the competition.

Since the start of 2020/21, only Arsenal centre-back Gabriel (18) has scored more goals among defenders in the Premier League than Everton’s Keane (13).