Moyesy says: I thought we were always a threat, we just didn't have enough in the final third. Nevertheless the players showed great attitude. There was certainly no hangover from the European game and from our point of view we have put the myth to bed that we can come back and play well after Europe.

I thought we controlled the majority of the game, apart from maybe the opening 10 minutes, and did not really look as if we would lose a goal. We did not maybe have the cutting edge, but as far as possession goes and keeping the ball, I was pleased with the players. It was disappointing because we lost the game but not performance wise. We were happy with the performance again and to be fair played quite well. We were never under any real pressure, our play was very good and we were expecting a goal to come from it. It didn't and that gave them an opportunity and they took it.

We have had quite a tough start, Villarreal twice, Manchester United, been away to Bolton and now come here - but we knew that and looked forward to it because of the chance of the Champions League. We should have won today but just did not get the break which might have given us it. I couldn't really say the game got away from us and to be honest I thought we were more likely to score because of the possession we had but that proved to be the case. They have scored a good goal, though we felt we should have stopped it on the left-hand side. We kept them out all game and looked as though we were going to keep a clean sheet but it wasn't to be."

Phil Neville on His First Ever Sending Off says: "Foreign forwards maybe do make more of those types of challenges these days. That is not an excuse at all. It wasn’t Tomasz Radzinski that got me sent off it was a bit of the referee, a bit of a tired challenge. But I didn't think it was a booking and that is why I am so disappointed. It was the first time I have been sent off in my career and in the last minute of the game. In the first half he gave a foul against me and agreed that I got the ball, so I thought then I probably had my work cut out. Later on it was an innocuous challenge, I didn’t feel I touched the lad hardly and maybe with a minute to go he could have taken a more lenient view." (28/08/05)

*

Everton hope to put the disappointment of Villarreal behind them, as they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage. The usual suspects are still out injured as Moyesy tries to rally his troops before the International break next week. Harry Hill, Nace, Pisto, and PK are all sidelined. Everton are waiting anxiously to see if new loan signing Matteo Ferrari registration has cleared in time for him to slot into left back. If not I expect Everton to go to their tried and tested 4-5-1, with Benty as a lone striker, and the Big Man resting his weary legs. Phil Neville may slip into the left back position, and Ossie may start from the off.

James Beattie has travelled with the squad, but his chances off starting are slim. If he passes his fitness test, expect to see Biffa on the bench.

Moyesy says: "James hasn't got a very big chance at this moment in time.

Tiny says: "The best thing we can do is go out there and play as well as we can. There are a lot of tired legs and after the game in midweek we are a bit down but we have got to lift ourselves and get on with it. The Premier League is our bread and butter. This week we have got Fulham and that is all that matters now. It is a tough place to go and I have a lot of respect for them. They work hard like ourselves and are a very good side but there is no better way than lifting ourselves up than getting a victory. As long as we get a result it will make things easier in people's minds.

It always lifts morale to have new signings arriving, (Ferrari) the more the merrier. We have a lot of injuries and a lot of knocks and we have the UEFA Cup coming so we understand as footballers we can't play in every game." (27/08/05)

Everton from: Martyn, Wright, Yobo, Weir, Arteta, Bent, Beattie, Ferguson, Davies, McFadden, Li Tie, Kilbane, Cahill, Neville, Ferrari Osman, Hibbert, Vaughan

Lavo's Everton XI To Start: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Neville, Arteta, Davies, Cahill, Neville, Kilbane, Bent.

Lavo's Bet: £10 on Cahill for First Goal (8/1).

Fulham are definitely Everton's bogey team down in London. The Blues have not beaten Fulham at the Cottage, or Loftus Road, since Fulham's return to the top flight in 2001. This season though, Fulham are struggling after losing badly at Arsenal, drawing at home to lowly Brum, and on the reverse end of a defeat at Mark Hughes Blackburn.

Edwin Van Der Saar has left for pastures new, and Chris Coleman has recruited Scouse keeper Tony Warner from Millwall on loan. Apart from that it is the usual suspects that Coleman has to pick from, and that includes The Rad. He made a good choice. Another Everton old boy Brian Mc Bride will be on show for them, and he is a danger.

Carlos Bocanegra could return from injury following his run-out with the reserve side this week, but otherwise the Cottagers are unchanged.

Fulham from: Warner, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Bocanegra, Jensen, Malbranque, Bouba Diop, Jensen, Boa Morte, McBride, Radzinski, Batista, Helguson, John, Leacock, Elrich.

Last Season @ Fulham