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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Craven Cottage
  • Attendance: 17169
  • Referee: Riley, M

Live Commentary

91mins

A number of close range near misses from both sides but McBride's 56th minute strike seals it for Fulham

90mins

The referee shows his fifth yellow of the game this time for a foul by Steed Malbranque

90mins

Phil Neville dismissed for his second bookable offence

87mins

Immediately back at the other half Luis Boa Morte's left footed shot misses to the right

86mins

Phil Neville's cross headed by Duncan Ferguson from the centre of the penalty area parried by Tony Warner

80mins

Duncan Ferguson makes an immediate impact but is caught narrowly offside conceding a free kick deep in Fulham's half

74mins

Kevin Kilbane substituted for Duncan Ferguson

73mins

Claus Jensen takes an inswinging corner from the left and Brian McBride heads it over the bar from only a few yards out

72mins

Rebounded shot from Steed Malbranque superbly tipped round the post by Nigel Martyn

72mins

Brian McBride's shot from the centre edge of the penalty area blocked by Joseph Ikpo Yobo

70mins

Phil Neville commits two fouls in succession and picks up a yellow for his efforts

67mins

Handball by Steed Malbranque, free kick taken by Nigel Martyn

64mins

A 20 yard strike from the left side by Steed Malbranque misses left

60mins

Zat Knight heads a near post cross wide from only 6 yards out

56mins

Brian McBride right footed stike from 18 yards out nestles in the bottom left of the goal

53mins

Marcus Bent almost through but the linesman's flag is up for offside

52mins

Carlos Bocanegra and Papa Bouba Diop both bring Marcus Bent down in succession both giving away a free kick

47mins

Moritz Volz takes a throw in in the Everton half

46mins

Second half gets underway

45mins

Chances few and far between here at Fulham with neither side making the most of the limited chances they've had

44mins

David Weir picks up a booking for a foul on Luis Boa Morte

40mins

Nigel Martyn takes a free kick from his own area after Brian McBride commits a silly foul on David Weir

39mins

Tim Cahill brings Papa Bouba Diop down for a free kick taken by Claus Jensen

35mins

Nigel Martyn makes an outstanding save but Papa Bouba Diop should have buried his header from only six yards out

33mins

Simon Davies fouls Niclas Jensen in the Fulham area provding them with an easy free kick to waive away the danger

30mins

Phil Neville's cross is cleared by Niclas Jensen

29mins

Phil Neville quickly takes an aggressive thrown in down the line

29mins

Claus Jensen's handball gives Everton a free kick down the left side

27mins

Tim Cahill's cross is too long and results in a goal kick

22mins

Tomasz Radzinski cross from the left side is cleared by David Weir

21mins

Simon Davies opens up with a shot from 25 yards out narrowly missing the left post

13mins

Phil Neville brings Luis Boa Morte down for a free kick which is fed through the left channel

12mins

An inswinging corner taken by Claus Jensen cleared easily by Tim Cahill

7mins

A left footed shot by Mikel Amatriain Arteta from the left side of the area safely cleared by Niclas Jensen

5mins

Tim Cahill fouls Papa Bouba Diop. The free kick taken quickly by Claus Jensen, C

0mins

The match has kicked off with Everton looking for their first point in six visits

Match Report

Chris Coleman will be delighted with the points, but not with the performance as him team clung on to a 1-0 win as Everton lay siege to their goal.

Brian McBride scored the only goal in a scrappy match that failed to get going until the hour.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges as they went in search of the first win at Craven Cottage since 2001. The industrious Phil Neville added bite to their midfield and allowed Tim Cahill to make his trademark surging runs.

It was on one of these forays that he won the ball and poked the ball through to Mikel Arteta on the edge of the box. The Spaniard ran into the box before unleashing a powerful shot that fizzed past the far post with Tony Warner watching.

Cahill again was involved just a minute later, spreading the ball wide to an equally advanced Kevin Kilbane to swing the ball in. Marcus Bent made a desperate run to get on the end of the cross, but the ball sailed just over his head.

As Everton surged Fulham continued to ride their luck at the back. Both Zat Knight and Carlos Bocanegra were guilty of being caught in possession of the ball when they should have cleared their lines and Fulham were lucky not to be punished early on.

The visitors relied on soaking up the Everton pressure and counter-attacking with some success. McBride hit an early effort over the bar and Luis Boa Morte's intelligent run saw him meet McBride's cross at the near post, but the captain slid the ball wide from six yards out.

An angry exchange between the Fulham captain and Nigel Martyn ensued as the keeper was annoyed that Fulham continued to attack whilst two Everton attackers lay on the floor with injuries sustained in the previous assault on the Fulham goal. A quiet word from referee Mike Riley was enough to diffuse the situation.

Everton's grip on the game continued to tighten as the game went on and Bent was again guilty of missing the target with a header when Tony Hibbert swung in a useful ball to the striker.

Warner almost handed the opener to Bent when he sliced his clearance into the air and then completely missed the ball when trying to head the ball clear.

Coleman's half-time talks must be the stuff of legend as Fulham emerged a different side and took a surprise lead in the 62 minute through McBride.

Steed Malbranque sent Moritz Voltz into the box with a delicate pass and the German full-back cut the ball back intelligently for McBride to sweep the ball home from the penalty spot.

The home side almost doubled their lead just minutes later when Malbranque's mishit cross almost sneaked in and drew a good save from Martyn.

Everton tried to hit back and almost drew level at the last through substitute Duncan Ferguson but the Scot's powerful header from close range was palmed away by Warner.

As they became increasingly desperate tempers began to flair as the tackles went in. Neville saw red after picking up his second yellow card of the game for a late tackle on Tomasz Radzinski.

The visitors may count themselves unlucky to come away from this game with nothing, but it is welcome relief for Fulham boss Coleman.

Fulham

Everton

Corners

62

Fouls

1925

Goal attempts

96

Shots off target

54

Offsides

04

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