Match Report If Everton’s free-flowing attacking that yielded a burst of three goals against Crystal Palace last weekend both delighted and engendered fresh optimism for the Frank Lampard project, it was also rare. Among the lowest-scoring teams in the division, Everton’s season has been defined in large parts by their inability to score on a regular basis, so while this clash with a fairly porous but free-scoring Fulham promised goals, it didn’t end up producing any even if this was anything but a bore draw. There were 33 shots at goal between the two sides, 10 on target and good saves from both goalkeepers, although it was Jordan Pickford who was the busier and called upon for the more spectacular stops as both defences held during a hectic spell in the first quarter of the contest. Despite some decent openings, which, in particular, saw Demarai Gray sternly test Bernd Leno with a strong drive in the sixth minute and Dominic Calvert-Lewin go agonisingly close in the 20th, Everton were frequently found wanting in the final third. There was ever-present threat from the Blues on the counter but in the first half the execution wasn’t always there and increasingly as the match wore on, merely getting it to the attackers full stop was a problem. Nathan Patterson made a welcome return to the matchday squad but Lampard kept faith with his starting XI, retaining captain Seamus Coleman in an unchanged line-up. It was a decision made easier, perhaps, by the Scot’s four-week lay-off and the need to ease him back into action but Coleman, so impressive against Wilfried Zaha last week, struggled at times to contain ex-Blue, Antonee Robinson down the Cottagers’ left flank. Patterson’s own display when he came with a little over an hour gone betrayed a touch of rust but will have found the minutes valuable in the context of a possible return to the starting line-up next weekend against Leicester City. In the meantime, both Fulham and Everton made an enterprising and entertaining start to the contest, with the visitors, in particular, looking to be very much in the mood to try and grab an early goal. Calvert-Lewin just failed to connect with Gray with a cut-back in the box and Anthony Gordon had a half-volley charged down before Gray collected a cross from Vitalii Mykolenko following a corner and smashed a rasping, rising shot that Leno had to push over the bar in the sixth minute. Pickford had to be alert to pull off an even better stop at the other end to fingertip Willian’s effort over and, from the resulting corner, Pickford had to tip the ball behind again as Aleksander Mitrovic rose to header towards the top corner. That set-piece ended with Pickford palming a shot from Harrison Reed over and Calvert-Lewin was on hand to clear the ball away from his own goal line as the visitors refused to buckle under the pressure. Everton’s best chance came in the 20th minute as Gray whipped a dangerous ball in behind the Fulham defence, Calvert-Lewin could only get a glancing touch on it with his shin and the ball flashed past Gordon at the far post. Reed’s deflected shot fell to Pickford on the half-hour mark while Conor Coady could only steer a volley at the keeper off another Mykolenko cross, Tarkowski steered a free header straight at Leno and Gordon wasted a decent chance towards the end of the half when he lashed over. The second half began with a check by the Video Assistant Referee after Willian went down in the box under the attentions of Idrissa Gueye but, sensibly, no penalty was given and Pickford was called into duty five minutes later to push away a shot from the Brazilian winger after Mitrovic had headed over. Amadou Onana had a shot following a corner that dribbled agonisingly wide just before the hour before the game began to tilt in Marco Silva’s side’s favour. However, Fulham were restricted to mere half chances as Mitrovic, who had 10 shots in all on the day, miscued again with a volley and a half-volley and Tarkowski did brilliantly to get across to block an effort from substitute Tom Cairney. Pickford was called upon to save once more from Willian and James Garner, on for Gueye, made a vital interception in his own box as Everton held out for the point. Being the only side to hold Fulham goalless at Craven Cottage so far this season demonstrates the extent to which Lampard and Kevin Thelwell have addressed the defensive issues that plagued the Toffees last season. In putting dependable, throw-yourself-at-everything characters like Coady and Tarkowski in front of the excellent Pickford alongside another superb last-ditch defender in Mykolenko (who was outstanding on the day), Everton aren’t conceding many goals. It’s going forward, particularly away from home, that presents the next challenge. Whether the manager has enough reliable outlets in that area of the pitch is doubtful; whether it’s something with which he can coach his way to success or will need to address via the transfer market remains to be seen. For now, though, Lampard’s men are continuing to pick up points on the road where they would have lost last season and that continues to bode well for mid-table safety this term rather than another scrap to avoid the drop. Lyndon Lloyd top Matchday Updates Everton fashioned some pretty decent chances in a very lively first half, and should have been ahead, only to shrink back into what had to be a very effective defensive shell as Fulham threw everything bar the kitchen sink at them after the break to try and get the win. Much has been made of the selection dilemmas facing Frank Lampard, who stuck with Seamus Coleman at right back to maintain an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in a row. Nathan Patterson returns to the squad after missing the last five games through injury with Salamon Rondon making way for him on the 9-man bench. Everton, in all-yellow strip, got things underway and looked to push forward, Gordon pressing. Calvert-Lewin picked up a good forward ball from Iwobi and evaded his marker to almost lay it back for an early chance. Mykolenko tried to cross but it was cleared and Willian led Fulham's first attack, headed wide. Pickford's huge clearance bounced for Gordon but Robinson was across to block for a corner. Gray had a great strike off the second phase, forcing a tremendous save from Leno. Really lively start by Everton! Fulham had more of the play, Willian spinning and lashing in a shot that Pickford brilliantly tipped over the bar. Mitrovic's header also needed a fine save by Pickford. The third Fulham corner set up Reed for a distant shot that also needed another decent Pickford save. Everton lost possession in midfield and Robinson won a corner off Coleman that Calvert-Lewin had to head off the line. Mykolenko tried to feed Calvert-Lewin but it was overhit. Another long ball from the back gave Gray something to chase but it came through to Leno. The game settled down a little after a frenetic first 15 minutes. Gray got the ball wide left and put in the perfect cross for Calvert-Lewin to convert... only he didn't – not getting his body into the right position, the ball grazing off his shin. What a chance that should have been! Next opportunity and Gray shot weakly straight to Leno. Mitrovic trod on Gana's ankle, getting an early yellow, albeit pretty accidental. Very painful for Gana, however. But some debate followed, Lampard asking why it wasn't a red card. Fulham mounted a dangerous attack that had to be defended by Coady stretching to scoop it over the bar for a corner, from which Ream shot well wide. Onana and Gordon tried to get things moving in midfield but possession was lost. This kept happening in midfield, Gana the next to suffer in the press and Tarkowski had to rescue things with a block behind for Fulham's seventh corner. Finally, Everton got forward and won a corner, taken by Gray very poorly, not beating the first man. But in the next phase, a cross dropped for Coady and he could only sidefoot it tamely to Leno. Iwobi fed Gray wide left and he eventually got in a fair cross but it was cleared and Fulham attacked again. Onana was adjudged to have fouled, giving up a dangerous free-kick that Calvert-Lewin headed clear but a cross came back in for Ream to head inches wide. Tarkowski and Cordova-Reid wrestled each other to the ground off the ball. The VAR said no issue. A great ball in to Calvert-Lewin wasn't really controlled; Gray going the wrong way for his layoff. Mykolenko stopped an attack and overlapped with Gray, for Iwobi to ultimately force a corner. Gray swung a perfect cross in to Tarkowski who headed with great purpose and power directly at Leno, while the goal around him gapped yawningly. Everton then worked the ball well to Gordon who saw fame looming but he rashly lashed it over the Fulham goal instead of bursting the roof of the net. Fulham responded with another attack that brought out some incredible defending from Onana. Gordon had the chance for a perfectly weighted forward pass to play in Calvert-Lewin but he again overhit it horribly and the chance was not only gone, it led to another Fulham drive, this time down their left, needing more stiff defending from Everton to keep the score 0-0 at half-time. Fulham restarted and Willian thought he was fouled when Gana just touched the ball away from him as he got his foot stuck in the turf. No penalty. Fulham worked it well for Pereira to set up Mitrovic for a header that flew over Pickford's goal. Iwobi played a great crossfield ball to Gray but he had wandered offside. Robinson was given too much space to advance and it needed Mykolenko to clear. Everton looked to break with a good run from Gordon but Calvert-Lewin had gone too far beyond his cross. Fulham responded, Willian forcing a brilliant save off his deflected shot. From the corner, Fulham looked really threatening and Everton had to really defend well. Everton won possession but Onna showed too much to Palhinha, who cleared. Everton tried to work it from the throw-in but Gordon lost it under pressure and another fine contest ensued in midfield to try and gain advantage, Gray was fouled by Cordova-Reid. It came to Calvert-Lewin who shaped to shoot but was denied before the offside flag went up very late. Some excellent work by Mykolenko was rewarded with some good refereeing that saw Cordova-Reid booked. From the free-kick, Tarkowski headed down for Onana to spin around and shoot just wide. Fulham moved it up quickly through Robinson and Mitrovic smacked his volley a long way wide. More great stuff in midfield saw Palhinha get the better of Onana and the ball dropped for Mitrovic who fairly lashed it high over the Everton bar. Time for some changes from Frank Lampard after Onana caught the back of Andreas's leg. More solid defending of the free kick was required. Everton came under serious pressure but the defending was of the highest quality, Calvert-Lewin giving up a foul that led to yet another full-blown Fulham attack against a solid and robust Everton defence. Patterson was forced to give up a corner but Everton could not clear it convincingly. Everton finally got the ball forward through Iwobi but Calvert-Lewin had again strayed well offside as he skipped past Leno before the flag finally went up. When Everton did get the ball again, Iwobi played it straight out in front of Gray as they struggled to take advantage of any possession. More pressure but Everton broke with Gordon getting a nice chance to make a great run forward but talk about no end-product... oh goodness. At least it relieved the pressure but Everton were offside yet again, as Gray was replaced by McNeil. Everton came close to actually building an attack but it again fizzled out at Gordon. Fulham built their attack much more convincingly, the final shot deflected behind for yet another Fulham corner, Pickford putting it behind. Everton looked to break but Gordon was well tackled and Willian's shot had to be smothered by Pickford. Fulham surged forward again, and Mitrovic just could not get his foot around the ball, Everton saved again. But their midfield play was slow and negative, inviting Fulham to press, and it was really poor from Pickford, booting the ball shamefully into touch, as is now his MO when pressure threatens. Robinson was invited to cross dangerously again and Tarkowski had to dive bravely to head behind off Mitrovic's knee. Willian danced in brilliantly and it was Garner who had to clear this time. Fulham will be livid if they don't win this game... Another intense spell of Fulham pressure, more fantastic defending from Everton, another dangerous corner testing Pickford who batted it clear. Maupay replaced Gordon. Wilson looked to beat Mykolenko illegally to stop yet another Fulham attack. The free-kick was aimed for Calvert-Lewin but he couldn't win it. Still Everton had some rare forward possession only to send it back to Pickford for a hoof upfield that saw possession lost again. The rapid tempo of the game extended into 3 minutes of added time, Mitrovic getting another chance to shoot, again smacking it high over the Everton bar. Everton had possession but again it went back to Pickford, whose chip saw possession lost again! Why, why, why??? One last push forward for Fulham, but Pickford was out quickly to smother. The ball hoofed up to Calvert-Lewin was again not won by him and then he was again flagged offside... again. The full-time whistle finally came, and this will be considered a good result for Everton, who reverted into a bit of a defensive shell in the second half. A good point on balance, as Fulham will rue this one. Fulham: Leno, Kebano (67' Wilson), Reed, Diop, Mitrovic [Y:24'], Ream, De Cordova-Reid [Y:59'] (76' Tete), Pereira (76' Cairney), Willian, João Palhinha, Robinson.Subs: Rodak, Duffy, James, Vinícius, Tosin, Harris. Everton: Pickford, Coleman (64' Patterson) , Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Gana (65' Garner)., Onana, Gordon (86' Maupay), Gray (75' McNeil), Calvert-Lewin.Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Keane, Doucoure, Davies. Referee: John BrooksVAR: Darren England Michael Kenrick top Match Preview Everton travel to West London this weekend for the late Saturday afternoon kick-off against Fulham looking to carry forward some of the excellent attacking form that was on show at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace last time out. The Blues comfortably beat the Eagles 3-0 thanks to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first of the season, a welcome return to form for Anthony Gordon who scored the second at the end of a move that went from one end of the pitch to the other, and a brilliant third swept home by Dwight McNeil off Alex Iwobi’s sumptuous back-heel. This weekend’s trip to Craven Cottage promises to be a stern test and could offer up a high-scoring affair if Everton can replicate some of that attractive forward play that was on show last weekend and Fulham remain true to their own form which has seen them both score and concede plenty already this season. Former Toffees’ boss, Marco Silva, has got the Cottagers playing winning football, on the whole, however — they come into the weekend sitting in 7th place in the Premier League, just three points off much-lauded Newcastle in 4th — having beaten the likes of Brighton, Forest, Aston Villa and Leeds United but they’ve also shown themselves to be fallible at home. Newcastle recently thumped them 4-1, although a red card as early as the 8th minute shown to Nathaniel Chalobah severely undermined Fulham’s chances in that game and Bournemouth claimed a 2-2 draw against them a fortnight ago while West Ham beat them fairly comfortably at the London Stadium on 9 October. With the likes of Andreas Pereira running midfield and Aleksander Mitrovic the third-highest goal-scorer in the League so far with 9 goals, Silva has some very good players at his disposal but Frank Lampard will be confident that his central defensive rocks in the form of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady will form him as strong a buttress against the prolific Serb as any. Lampard will also have Nathan Patterson back available this weekend after the young Scot completed his recovery from injury to give the manager “a good headache”, in his words. Patterson has missed the last four weeks with an ankle injury sustained on international duty but has returned at the more optimistic end of his prognosis and a lot sooner than was initially feared when he had to be stretchered off playing for Scotland in Uefa's Nations League. It means that Lampard will have both of his senior right-backs available and it is not a given that Patterson, who was in superb form prior to his injury, will get to walk straight back into the starting XI. That's because veteran Seamus Coleman has deputised impressively over the past five games, including last weekend against Crystal Palace in the Toffees' fine 3-0 win where the 34-year-old stifled any threat posed by Wilfried Zaha and shut down one of the Eagles' most reliable attacking outlets. “It gives me a really good headache and that's exactly what I wanted, Lampard said in his press conference. Nathan's been really, really good this season until he got his unfortunate injury and then it's allowed Seamus to come in and find fitness and form and that peaked last week against Palace and Zaha who is one of the most difficult opponents to play against in that position. “I think it's really good competition between two lads, one whose been here a long time and one who is just coming through and they get on really well, so I’m more than happy with that.” Should Patterson start, he would likely represent the only change to the line-up providing there are no last-minute injury or illness scares. Kick-off: 5.30pm, Saturday 29 October 2022Referee: John BrooksVAR: Simon HooperLast Time: Fulham 2 - 3 Everton Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, Gordon, Gray, Calvert-Lewin Lyndon Lloyd top * Unfortunately, we cannot control other sites' content policies and therefore cannot guarantee that links to external reports will remain active.