Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley, Linderoth, Kilbane, Radzinski, Jeffers, Campbell.

Bench: Rooney for Radzinski (58m), Ferguson for Campbell (58m), Pistone, McFadden for Carsley (58m), Simonsen.

Referee: Graham Poll.

Besides not having any mild in Old Laanndan Tarn, the mood was boyant after the draw against the gooners. The problem was we can beat Fulham at home, but have big problems beating them in the smoke. Davie Weir was thrown in at the back, as Stubbsey (groin) & Yobo (virus) were both out. The big talking point was the omission of Big Dunc & The Duke. Although we knew Rooney may be given a rest, Ferguson being left out was a surprise. We soon forgot about them both, when we started like a house on fire.

Everton had chance after chance to score in the first 20 minutes, but failed. Firstly Campbell pulled a chance wide. Then The Rad had a great chance to head home a Jeffers cross, but he only headed straight at the keeper. Everton were attacking at will, especially down the left were Naysmith & Kilbane were having good games.

Jeffers did really well when he came inside & screwed his shot narrowly wide. He should have scored. Fulham had a few chances of their own. Notably a Malbranque shot & a Davies drive, but Big Nige saved comfortably.

Again it was Jeffers who was catching the eye. He chipped the ball into the on coming Killa, who volleyed over, with the Everton fans on their feet expecting a goal. Shouts of hard lines you Irish International and the like were heard. Jeffers again showed great skill to lob the ball over a 9 foot Knight, but spoiled it by ballooning it over the bar. Good play by Killa put The Rad away, he skipped past a defender and hit a fiece shot, which Van Der Saar saved well.

Fulham again came back with Davies, who on this form would have been a good acquisition. He had a shot brilliantly saved by Martyn. Evertons early form deserted them as Fulham finished the stronger and after Everton had had numerous chances to take the lead it was Fulham who broke the deadlock. Naysmith adjudged to have brought down Malbranque, the referee awarded the penalty and Saha kept his name in the papers.

Half Time. Fulham 1, Everton 0.

Everton must have been disappointed going in 1 - 0 down when they should have been in front. Things got worse when a minute into the second half Fulham made it 2 - 0. Naysmith failed to tackle Malbranque and he riffled home. Moyesy only waited ten minutes to make a change when he made a bold triple substitution, bringing on Big Dunc, The Duke and Faddy for SuperKev, The Rad and Carsley. Everton were now chasing the game and although had a few more chances, Fulham always looked dangerous on the break.

McFadden had a shot which was deflected into the path of Rooney and his shot was cleared off the line. Everton started putting a bit more pressure on the Fulham goal and had many chances to make the pressure tell but the final ball was poor and the three corners we had were all wasted. Everton's best chance of the half was created by Hibbert and Jeffers. The latter put over a great cross to Ferguson whose goal bound header hit Van de Saars legs and was cleared. Everton needed to score in this period and didn't. The game then became an end to end battle with both sides going for goals.

Everton finally got a bit of luck in front of goal when Kevin Kilbane drove home from 25 yards with Van de Saar diving full length but still had no chance. Malbranque again had a chance for Fulham but Martyn saved. Everton had their chances in the first half but if you don't take your chances you don't win games. Everton had a couple of players in the shake up for man of the match, those being Tony Hibbet, Toby Linderoth and Franny Jeffers but I picked Kevin Kilbane who worked tirelessly again and scored an absolute beauty.

Kipper Reports from Loftus Road

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Blue Kipper Star Man

Kevin Kilbane

 

Bad Challenge For Penalty

 

 

Chances Missed