Everton versus Fulham Match Preview – by Paddy Howlin

Everton go in to their penultimate home game of the season hoping to protect one of the best unbeaten records in the Premier League, when they face Fulham on Saturday afternoon (15.00 BST).

Since being promoted to the Premier League in May 2001, Fulham have travelled to Goodison Park on ten occasions and each and every time Everton have come out as winners without exception.

Indeed, prior to Fulham’s promotion 11 years ago, the Cottagers have never won a league clash at Goodison in a run that currently stretches across 23 games.

The best result Fulham have achieved away to Everton in the league is to draw. They have done this four times, with the last draw at Goodison between the sides being a 0-0 way back in September 1959. This result put the Toffee’s rock bottom of Division 1 following a winless start to the season, bettered only by Mike Walker’s Everton team in 1994.

The Toffees will be hoping to continue that sequence as they look to consolidate their grip on 7th place, but will be mindful that a unique Fulham win at Goodison would see the East London side leapfrog Everton in table following their recent run of good form which has seen them win seven matches in the last ten games in the Premier League. Last week’s 2-1 victory against an inform Wigan Athletic adding to Fulham’s strong finish to the season.

It’s easy to forget following the doom and gloom of the Wembley FA Cup Semi-Final exit, that the Blues are in a fairly rich vein of form themselves in the Premier League and have won five of their last six at Goodison and have lost just 3 league matches in the last 14.

Everton will go in to the clash in far richer spirits after the amazing 4-4 result at Old Trafford last Sunday. Showing great resilience and a greater attacking threat than the previous weekend at Wembley (and arguably at any time away from home in Moyes’ ten years at the club), most Everton fans will have been encouraged with that performance against a title chasing Manchester United side.

The performances of Nikica Jelavić, Marouane Fellaini and Steven Piennar particularly stood out in an excellent team performance, but no doubt David Moyes will have been worried with the four goals conceded, despite the quality of each of the United goals.

Whilst there is now a growing realisation that Everton do not look as solid when Phil Jagielka is at centre-back, Everton clearly missed the natural balance Leighton Baines brings to the Everton back four.

Fulham’s fantastic recent form can be attributed to the excellent performances of USA International Clint Dempsey who has had his best season to date in England, in what has been a wonderful career since signing from New England Revolution in January 2007. This season has saw Dempsey score a personal best of 16 goals so far in the league and 22 in all competitions. An amazing return given the fact Dempsey is not an out and out forward.

Whilst it was rumoured that Everton were also interested in signing Dempsey, but where not prepared to pay the £2m transfer fee, it is unlikely that Everton would pass on the opportunity to sign Fulham’s leading scorer should they get an opportunity to capture him this summer. With the players contract currently winding down and no news on a new deal on the table, then it is probable that Dempsey will move on during the next transfer window.

The question most people would have is twofold however. Firstly would Everton really have the cash to sign Dempsey and secondly would the player tempted to Goodison Park or would other suitors who could offer more money or the prospect of European Football next season, have a better chance in tempting the American to leave East London? Time will tell, however few would argue that Dempsey would make an ideal replacement for Tim Cahill and be an ideal fit for David Moyes’ team.

The other contributory factor behind Fulham’s rise up the table, has been their improved away form this season, which for the majority of their time in the Premier League has been a major problem. Martin Jol appears to have found a formula that has brought more success for the Cottagers on the road, with them claiming three wins, five draws and eight defeats away from home so far this season. Two of these away wins have come in the last ten league matches, with a 1-0 win at Fulham and a 3-0 win at Bolton.

At the time of writing, Everton should have no fresh injury worries ahead of Saturday’s game, with Leon Osman expected to be fit, despite having to come off at Old Trafford with a head injury. Leighton Baines is expected to be missing until the final game of the season with Newcastle, however it remains to be seen if David Moyes will continue with Sylvain Distin at left back following his shaky performance at Old Trafford in an unfamiliar role. It is possible Moyes may restore Phil Neville in this role, after the Blues Captain put in an assured performance in this position against Sunderland in the last match at home.

Royston Drenthe looks to have played his last game for the club, with rumours of a move to Liverpool next season compounding his ill-discipline which has seen him banished to David Moyes’ naughty stair until his loan expires in May.

The loss of Drenthe however is likely to present a chance for Ross Barkley to have another opportunity in the first team squad as the season draws to a close, with little seen of the promising youngster since October.

Fulham’s main injury problem centre on Costa Rican International Bryan Ruiz, who is now out action until the end of the season with a broken metatarsal suffered in the 3-0 victory at Bolton. The £10.6m signing from FC Twente, has shown flashes of brilliance since his transfer deadline move in August, including a wonderful goal when the two sides met at Craven Cottage in October, a game which Everton won 3-1.

Whilst it is tempting to think that Saturday’s game could play out to be a tame end of season affair, given that in the greater scheme of things neither side has a realistic chance of securing European Football next season, after last week’s game at Old Trafford anything is possible.

With Everton looking less solid defensively without Leighton Baines, but more of a goal threat with Nikica Jelavić well and truly finding his feet in English football, I can see goals at both ends in this game.

Given Everton’s excellent history against Fulham at Goodison, I can see the Blues securing another three points that will extend their long unbeaten run at home against the Cottagers. A win will also hopefully put the Toffees in pole position to land a minimum league placing within the top 10 of the Premier League for a six consecutive season.

Who knows with Tottenham’s season clearly imploding and Chelsea’s attentions being focused elsewhere, there could be an opportunity for the Toffee’s to close in on an unlikely top 6 finish. As proven in the Camp Nou on Tuesday, miracles can happen, but this is Everton and good luck and fortune seldom finds its way to Goodsion!

Everton 3 Fulham 2