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A springtime walk in the Park

Everton 4 - 0 Fulham

Match Summary

No Baines, Rodwell or Drenthe again so David Moyes named an unchanged line-up, with Distin at left back and Fellaini in the hole behind Jelavic.

Everton took the initiative from the start, Pienaar and Distin pressing forward, the South Africa wining a free-kick where Progrebnyak raised his arms instinctively to protect his face. Penalty! Jelavic lashed it home sending Schwarzer the wrong way, with just five minutes gone!

Fulham mounted their first attack on 10 mins, Dembele forcing a great save from Howard. But it was at the other end that another free-kick was awarded to Everton and Heitinga lofted it poorly.

After some deliberative sideways passing at the back, a Jagielka hoofball picked out Jelavic who turned and hit the post, then won a corner, from which Fellaini nodded home expertly. 2 - 0!!!

Everton were In confident mood and continued to play some silky football going forward, while not forgetting their defensive duties when Fulham had possession. Dempsey got in a shot that went over, then looked certain to drill it past Howard but a defection and a great reaction save from his fellow American pushed the ball onto the Everton bar and over.

Five minutes before half-time and Jelavic scored an extraordinary goal, getting loose on a great ball from Pienaar but going a little too wide; however, he kept possession as Schwarzer regrouped, then took a shot from a very narrow angle that went straight through Schwarzer's legs and in at the near post despite a desperate defender's attempt to block on the line. Great multi-touch mastery from the big Croat!

The Blues continued to dominate the game and ran off to a chorus of applause at the break. But a surprise change at the half was Gisbson (who had been booked and may have been injured) staying off and Tim Cahill getting his largely ineffective role back behind the striker.

And it was Cahill who scored the fourth goal with a deft touch off a wonderful chip from Pienaar that left the Fulham defence for dead.

Jelevaic then won and took a really good free-kick that almost won his hat-trick, Schwarzer making a good save to deny him.

The Everton players tried everything they could to set up Jelavic for his hat-trick but the ball just wouldn't fall fro him despite intricate passing and movement from the Blue shirts, until Neville finally tried a blast that was blocked and gave Fulham a counter-attack chance. Fellaini then made way for a rare reappearance by young Ross Barkley.

Pienaar and Osman forced last-gasp saves from Schwarzer in quick succession, as it seemed that fifth goal would never come. Pienaar was then replaced late on by Magaye Gueye.

Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin; Osman, Gibson Y:38' (46' Cahill), Neville, Pienaar (84' Gueye); Fellaini (75' Barkley); Jelavic.
Subs: Mucha Stracqualursi, McFadden, Anichebe.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

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