David Moyes’ team moved into eighth place in the Premier League, two points behind Liverpool, with Everton coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 in the closing stages at Craven Cottage.
With suspended Moyes and England manager Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands, the visitors looked set for defeat as they trailed to a first-half own goal from Vitaly Mykolenko with 15 minutes left in west London.
But a goal from Keenan Dewsbury-Hall, followed by a horror own goal from Bernd Leno, lifted Everton up the table, with Liverpool on the verge of the champions’ home game against Man City on Super Sunday.
And given that Everton rank sixth in terms of points since Moyes returned to the club last January, there’s no need to be shocked if the Toffees are able to overtake their rivals and reach Europe at the end of the season.
Bernd Leno hits the ball into his own net under pressure from Everton’s Jake O’Brien
However, things could have gone the other way if Fulham had been more calm in the first half and built their lead through an unfortunate own goal from Mykolenko in the 18th minute.
However, Everton, who brought in Tyrik George on loan from Chelsea in January, picked up the pace in the second period, first leveling the scores with a good goal from Dewsbury Hall, and then a bizarre second own goal of the game clinched all three points, and that gap came back to haunt them.
There appeared to be little danger as Dewsbury Hall’s 83rd minute corner kick drifted in Leno’s direction, but the experienced German goalkeeper managed to drive the ball into his own net under minimal pressure from Jake O’Brien.
Everton came back from two points behind.
Silva responded by bringing in Oscar Bobb, signed from Man City for £27m on deadline day, but he had little time to make an impact on the game, the visitors held on and Moyes’ dreams of European football next season may not be so far-fetched after all.
What the managers said…
Fulham manager Marco Silva:
“He[Jake O’Brien]got in the way[of Everton’s winner]but to be honest I’m very disappointed and we should be disappointed in ourselves rather than the referee.”
Everton came back from two points behind.
“Now is the time to really look for us. We have to be braver and more aggressive in every moment we concede a goal.”
Everton manager David Moyes:
“We were able to keep it 1-0 at half-time and played much better in the second half.
“The idea right now is to push on and push through, but every time we win in the Premier League we get pretty excited and then we lose a game and could easily end up in the bottom of the league.
“It wasn’t fun to watch there.
“If that’s what you’re getting from showing emotion, then that’s a little bit sad. I’m sure I broke the rules. I have no doubt that I ran on the pitch, but look at how many people from the Arsenal bench ran on the pitch when they scored the other day.”
Keenan Dewsbury Hall celebrates Everton’s equalizer at Craven Cottage
Moyes is not stupid – Everton can qualify for Europe
Analysis by Sky Sports’ Rich Morgan:
Everton manager David Moyes wondered whether to talk about his side’s European prospects or downplay them after their late comeback win against Fulham, but he ended up doing both.
“(The win) is very important and I think it probably keeps us away from the big R word, which is at the bottom of the league, that’s for sure,” he said after the game, at first without a trace of sarcasm, but then revealed his true feelings.
Everton players celebrate after Bernd Leno’s own goal gave them the lead at Craven Cottage
“I don’t want to come here and say we’re trying to avoid relegation. There’s too much bad news and too much bad publicity for Everton and I don’t want to do that. So I’d rather come here and say we’re trying hard in Europe.”
“In a few weeks you might be laughing and saying, ‘I was so stupid,’ but I’d rather stay positive.”
But with the Toffees currently in a tight pack chasing sixth-placed Liverpool, Moyes and his players are brave enough to dream of a first European appearance in nine seasons, and given the Scot’s excellent form since returning as manager of the club last January, it’s no wonder they don’t.
In fact, Everton are ranked 6th on points during this period, so don’t be shocked if they finish in that position in May.
