Tim Howard has the ball in Fulham's net! But it won't count as, with his long clearance bouncing towards Schwarzer, Yakubu takes a running jump into the Fulham keeper to foul him and the referee has blown long before the ball trickles into the net.

Zoltan Gera is up again from a corner unmarked but this time he heads straight at Howard who makes a simple stop.

Bullard collects a loose ball 30 yards from goal and Everton stand off him as he advances a few yards and lets fly but Howard watches it all the way into his arms.

The home side have dropped flat again and it is Fulham that actually look the more composed and dangerous in possession now.

...Bullard strikes it and forces a superb stop from Howard - right in the top corner - and Zamora is in quickly for the rebound but it somehow hits the inside of the post and comes out - how did that stay out?

A chance for Fulham now as they have a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Bullard, Murphy, Zamora, Konchesky and Gera are all standing around the ball...

Slowly but surely the game is coming alive! Everton are exerting pressure and Schwarzer is being called upon to make testing claims on a regular basis from balls into the box.

A football match is breaking out at last! It has taken an hour but suddenly the tackles are flying in and the pace has quickened - Bullard is downed by Cahill but he is soon up on his feet, without treatment.

Almost a disaster for John Pantsil as he tries to head a simple ball back to Schwarzer but Yakubu is alive and is inches away from poking it away from the Fulham stopper and into the net.

The crowd are once again quiet as the pace drops but Louis Saha is warming up on the touchline now - perhaps Moyes is going to change the formation.

Fulham have struggled to get out of their half in the last ten minutes but they win a corner and the second cross back in is headed against the bar by Gera from three yards out - he should have scored!

The hosts have upped the tempo as expected and suddenly Arteta has come alive as he cuts inside Pantsil and Hughes to fire a shot wide of the near post.

Better from Everton as Arteta uses some good skill to evade Pantsil and dink a cross to the far post where Cahill is arriving but can't keep the header down.

The sun has come out during the interval and Tim Howard is facing directly into the glaring sky, without a hat, could Fulham take advantage with some high balls?

There is going to be just one minute of added time.

Frustration is growing from the home support as the half enters its closing stages and frankly it has been rather dull.

Everton are unhappy as Hangeland takes a lift and a ride on Fellaini in the box but no penalty for the Toffees - a blatant free-kick anywhere else on the pitch, so why did Lee Mason not point to the spot?

How many times are Everton going to waste Pienaar's good work as again he gets clear on the left to deliver to the far post where again Fellaini is waiting but again he is not alert and the ball deflects away from goal off his shins.

Again Pienaar is at the heart of good Everton attacking as he plays a one-two with Lescott and clips in for Fellaini who wasn't alive to it as the ball rather bounced off his face when well positioned.

What a chance! Bullard curls a stunning ball into the box but Zamora - for want of a better word - 'bottles' it against Howard in the air and Johnson can't adjust his feet to hammer the loose ball home as Everton survive.

The other week Bullard was 'touching up' Chimbonda in the wall and today Pantsil repeats the trick on Yakubu as they tussle for position on the near post at a corner.

Fellaini hits the post! Arteta feeds it into his path and the Belgian turns back inside before striking a shot against the foot of the post and Hughes defends superbly to deny Yakubu a simple tap-in on the follow up.

The visitors have the upper hand at the moment with Bullard and Zamora becoming increasingly involved but they are yet to create a meaningful opening.

Fulham manage their first attempt on goal as Bullard now springs from midfield but his effort is high, wide and not very handsome as Howard waves it over the bar.

Superb vision from Jimmy Bullard as he spots Zamora in the channel and plays a lovely ball into his run but the striker can't bring it under control and it runs through for Howard.

A scuffed free-kick from Arteta takes a wicked ricochet off the wall and Schwarzer is forced to scramble across his goal to tip it wide of the post.

Pienaar brings unpredictability, tricks and flicks to this Everton side and he almost finds Yakubu with a delightful chipped ball over the top of Hangeland but Schwarzer is smartly out.

Unexpectedly it is all a little quiet at Goodison - as if the crowd are waiting for the players to spark them into life and not vice versa.

Simon Davies seems to be in plenty of space when Fulham get possession and already he has put in two dangerous crosses from the right hand side when the visitors spring forward.

Pantsil gives it away to Yakubu and Everton have a man over as Arteta clips in from the left for an unmarked Pienaar but his header is comfortable for Schwarzer - a keeper in fine form in recent weeks.

A pretty slow start in general and not much for the Gladys Street End to get excited about but Everton are beginning to keep the ball and exert pressure.

The home side are enjoying good early possession but they are too keen to pump it forward to lone striker Yakubu and that is not going to cause many problems for Hangeland and co. at the back for the Cottagers.

Already the Toffees try to use Fellaini's height as Neville searches the big Belgian out in the box and his clever knock down only just evades Tim Cahill.