Sunday, March 20, 2011

Everton's slim win over Fulham

It was a tight win that could have been so different if Everton had been more disciplined. The chances were there for Everton to romp home. That did not happen. Everton won by a one-goal margin. Fortunate. Still, it meant that Everton is safe from the drop.

Everton seaw the return of Timmy and Neville. Both are war-hardened warriors that would add bite to the Toffees. We may even get a chance to see young Magaye play on the left wing some time during the match.

AJ is back in the fold for Fulham. He had served Everton well.

It is all Everton for the first 10 minutes. Crosses were coming in from both flanks but none have been on target. Everton nearly scored through Saha in the 27th minute through a header. Only to be cleared off the line by a Fulham defender.

Everton needed to turn their supremacy into goals and it happened in the 35th minute.The play was concentrated on the left. Ossie bamboozled two defenders before crossing the ball. The entire Fulham defence remained static and all Coleman had to do was to head into an empty net. Everton 1-0 Fulham. Assist: Ossie.

The rest of the 1st half was pretty much a bore. Still it was good for Everton to have gone into the half leading the game.

Right from the start, Everton pressed Fulham and once again, they were rewarded. Rodwell was bundled over and the referee gave Everton a freekick in a pretty dangerous position. Bainesy and Saha stood over the ball. Saha took the shot and it crept pass the wall and into goal. Everton 2-0 Fulham. Straight off the training ground.

Fulham constantly invited Everton to shoot. It was like a garden tea party. But as quickly as I had made that statement, Fulham scored in the 61st minute. Everton 2-1 Fulham. Suddenly the substitute that Fulham's manager made seemed to be a masterstroke. Suddenly Everton seemed to be all over the place.

In the 68th minute, Moyes replaced Timmy with Heitinga. That will not change the game. You need to bring on Becks to add more pressure rather than soak them in. If you let Fulham play, they would surely play. Moyes, make that change!!! Fulham is getting even more threatening.

Bily replaced Rodwell in the 77th minute? Why?

From a corner in the 81st minute, Jag planted a header towards goal. It was going in only for the Fulham defender to clear it off the line.

Still, Everton looked totally unrecognisable. They are jittery. Saha looked distraught and might have injured himself once again. His full weight was on his right ankle when he landed after a jump.

Finally, we get to see Becks who came in as a replacement for Saha in the 87th minute.

It started like peach but nearly ended as a pear. Very negative play for the last 30 minutes. Everton was made to sweat!

Score: Everton 2-1 Fulham
Scorers: Coleman, Saha
Assist: Ossie
Subs: Heitinga, Bily, Becks

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