Post by gw on Nov 4, 2006 20:46:51 GMT -1
Claus Jensen's deflected second-half strike gave Fulham victory against Everton at Craven Cottage.
Jensen's angled shot from 20 yards flew off Tim Cahill and beyond Everton keeper Tim Howard after 65 minutes.
It completed the transformation of a game Everton had completely dominated for the first half.
Andrew Johnson missed two good chances and also saw clear penalty appeals ignored when he tumbled under a challenge from Fulham's Ian Pearce.
It continued Everton's miserable sequence of 40 years without a win at Fulham and maintained Chris Coleman's side's steady start to the season.
Everton named an unchanged side after the creditable draw at Arsenal, while Fulham were able to recall captain Luis Boa Morte after he recovered from a fractured cheekbone.
He forced a diving save out of Fulham keeper Antti Niemi after 12 minutes, and was then involved in a controversial decision three minutes later.
Johnson appeared to be clearly fouled by Fulham defender Pearce as he turned inside the penalty area, but referee Mike Atkinson waved away Everton's appeals.
Everton were infuriated, and it looked like Johnson's reputation for winning spot-kicks had counted against him in this case.
Johnson should have given Everton the lead their superiority deserved after 37 minutes, when he stole in at the far post on to Cahill's cross but steered a close-range effort over the top.
Fulham had barely threatened as an attacking force, although former Everton striker Brian McBride did bring a simple save from Howard on the stroke of half-time.
For all Everton's pressure, Howard was forced to make the best save of the game after 55 minutes.
Pearce met Jensen's free-kick with a powerful downward header, but Howard dived low to his right to save brilliantly.
Howard was powerless after 65 minutes when Fulham, who had improved markedly after the break, took the lead.
Jensen turned Cahill on the edge of the area and his shot took a looping deflection off Carsley to beat Howard.
Everton sent on James Beattie in a bid to get back in the game, and he almost did the trick with an instinctive angled effort that flew narrowly wide.
Niemi then raced from goal to make a vital block from Johnson as Everton attempted to regain a foothold in the game.
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Fulham boss Chris Coleman:
" We knew it was going to be tough and the first 45 minutes proved me right.
"They played better football and created chances but we were still in it at half-time.
"We dug in and kept believing in ourselves and I thought we bossed the second 45 minutes and deserved to win the game."
Everton boss David Moyes denies Andy Johnson's reputation precedes him:
"Andy is as honest as the day is long.
"Maybe some referees are watching too many television programmes.
"Andy nicked the ball away from the defender who went to ground without making contact with the ball."
Jensen's angled shot from 20 yards flew off Tim Cahill and beyond Everton keeper Tim Howard after 65 minutes.
It completed the transformation of a game Everton had completely dominated for the first half.
Andrew Johnson missed two good chances and also saw clear penalty appeals ignored when he tumbled under a challenge from Fulham's Ian Pearce.
It continued Everton's miserable sequence of 40 years without a win at Fulham and maintained Chris Coleman's side's steady start to the season.
Everton named an unchanged side after the creditable draw at Arsenal, while Fulham were able to recall captain Luis Boa Morte after he recovered from a fractured cheekbone.
He forced a diving save out of Fulham keeper Antti Niemi after 12 minutes, and was then involved in a controversial decision three minutes later.
Johnson appeared to be clearly fouled by Fulham defender Pearce as he turned inside the penalty area, but referee Mike Atkinson waved away Everton's appeals.
Everton were infuriated, and it looked like Johnson's reputation for winning spot-kicks had counted against him in this case.
Johnson should have given Everton the lead their superiority deserved after 37 minutes, when he stole in at the far post on to Cahill's cross but steered a close-range effort over the top.
Fulham had barely threatened as an attacking force, although former Everton striker Brian McBride did bring a simple save from Howard on the stroke of half-time.
For all Everton's pressure, Howard was forced to make the best save of the game after 55 minutes.
Pearce met Jensen's free-kick with a powerful downward header, but Howard dived low to his right to save brilliantly.
Howard was powerless after 65 minutes when Fulham, who had improved markedly after the break, took the lead.
Jensen turned Cahill on the edge of the area and his shot took a looping deflection off Carsley to beat Howard.
Everton sent on James Beattie in a bid to get back in the game, and he almost did the trick with an instinctive angled effort that flew narrowly wide.
Niemi then raced from goal to make a vital block from Johnson as Everton attempted to regain a foothold in the game.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulham boss Chris Coleman:
" We knew it was going to be tough and the first 45 minutes proved me right.
"They played better football and created chances but we were still in it at half-time.
"We dug in and kept believing in ourselves and I thought we bossed the second 45 minutes and deserved to win the game."
Everton boss David Moyes denies Andy Johnson's reputation precedes him:
"Andy is as honest as the day is long.
"Maybe some referees are watching too many television programmes.
"Andy nicked the ball away from the defender who went to ground without making contact with the ball."