Fulham 0-0 Everton: Toffees fall into the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Craven Cottage

Both teams were able to clear their tries off the line at Craven Cottage

Everton fell into the Premier League relegation zone despite fighting hard to a goalless draw at Fulham.

Despite the score, there was no shortage of goal action at Craven Cottage, with both sides hitting the crossbar and their shots cleared off the line.

Everton overcame both within seconds when James Tarkowski's deflected shot hit Issa Diop's head and hit the crossbar. The ball then grazed Antonee Robinson and rolled back towards the goal, but Timothy Castagne was able to push it away in time.

Castagne found himself on the opposition side of a goal line later in the first half when his powerful shot deflected past Jordan Pickford and Tarkowski was there to block.

After a fairly even first half, Fulham dominated the second half as Castagne's header bounced off the crossbar and Pickford made an impressive save to keep out a header from Tosin Adarabioyo that appeared to be going into the net.

Marco Silva's team kept their guests trapped in their own half for long periods of the second third, but were unable to take advantage of numerous promising situations and were almost punished.

Everton substitute Beto headed over from distance in stoppage time and a minute later the Toffees failed to force the ball into the goal during a scramble on the edge of Fulham's six-yard penalty area.

What added to Fulham's frustration was that Raul Jimenez sustained a hamstring injury at the end of the first 45 minutes and had to be substituted at half-time. Diop also grabbed the back of his thigh after being substituted in the second half.

Well-known frustration for Fulham

“Real Premier League game” – Silva draw against Everton

Fulham have now gone five games without a win in all competitions after failing to put the finishing touches to an encouraging performance.

The Cottagers have failed to score in the ten games they play in the league this season and despite having 25 shots, their profligacy in front of goal continued.

Jimenez was missed as they tried to break the deadlock in the second half, but he wasted a very good opportunity when he sent his shot wide after Castagne's shot was cleared off the line.

Their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal was shown after the hour when Bobby Decordova-Reid broke free after a 50-50 duel with Jarrad Branthwaite.

Willian was there to support but an excellent two-on-one situation didn't even result in a shot as Decordova-Reid delayed the pass just long enough for the shot to be the better option and Ben Godfrey was able to save it.

“I have to say the goals will come. We can’t keep creating chances and not scoring,” Silva told ` Match of the Day.

“Decision making needs to be better and calm enough to make the right decisions. Decision making has a big impact when you are put in so many dangerous situations and we have to do better to score more goals.”

Silva's team should not be embroiled in a relegation battle this season, but will be aware that they risk being dragged into the relegation situation until they can make an effort.

One point won and two points lost for Everton?

“Maximum effort and mentality” is what Dyche is happy about in the draw between Everton and Fulham

Given the way the second half had gone, Everton would certainly have been happy to accept a point when the meter went up to show six minutes of injury time.

However, given the glaring nature of Beto's miss and the chances for the Portuguese striker and Godfrey in the goalkeeping chaos that soon followed, Sean Dyche will be wondering how his side managed not to win.

It would have been a significant boost at the start of a crucial week for the club, with an appeal against a points deduction now underway.

The fact that they are now in the relegation zone just shows how much the result depends on the outcome.

Dyche was able to use the first penalty to motivate his players, but after a good period before Christmas, their form deteriorated, albeit during a difficult run of games, and after half-time in west London they were clearly second best.

“We're a bit tense at the moment but there was maximum effort and maximum mentality,” Dyche told Match of the Day.

“A good 0-0, if there is such a thing, but we are overwhelmed and demand a lot from them, even from players who are not fully fit.”

“The group gives it their all, supported by a fantastic fan base. There is still a lot to do, but there are clear signs that a group is giving everything to the cause, even if we have a lot of injuries.”

Every point counts and this could make the difference in May. They can only hope they don't look back and see this as an important two lost points.

Player of the game

LenoBernd Leno

Fulham

1. Squad number17Player nameLeno

2. Squad number26Player nameJoao Palhinha

3. Squad number10Player nameCairney

4. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

5. Squad number21Player nameChestnuts

6. Squad number20Player nameWilliam

7. Squad number7Player nameJimenez

8. Squad number31Player nameDiop

9. Squad number14Player nameThe Cordova Reid

10. Squad number4Player nameAs a matter of fact

11. Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

12. Squad number13Player nameRies

13. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz

Everton

1. Squad number32Player nameBranthwaite

2. Squad number6Player nameTarkovsky

3. Squad number22Player nameGottfried

4. Squad number19Player nameMykolenko

5. Squad number2Player namePatterson

6. Squad number37Player nameGarner

7. Squad number7Player nameMcNeil

8. Squad number11Player nameHarrison

9. Squad number9Player nameCalvert Lewin

10. Squad number10Player nameDanjuma

11. Squad number61Player nameDobbin

12. Squad number14Player nameBe

13. Squad number18Player nameYoung

14. Squad number1Player namePickford

Lineups

Fulham

formation 4-2-3-1

17Leno

21Chestnuts4As a matter of fact31Diop33Robinson

26Joao Palhinha10Cairney

14The Cordova Reid18Pereira20William

7Jimenez

• 17Leno
• 21Chestnuts
• 4As a matter of fact
• 31DiopReplaced byRiesat 75'protocol
• 33Robinson
• 26Joao PalhinhaBooked for 26 minutes
• 10Cairney
• 14The Cordova Reid
• 18Pereira
• 20William
• 7JimenezReplaced byMuniz Carvalhoat 45'protocol

Substitute

• 1Indigenous
• 2Tete
• 6reed
• 13Ries
• 19Muniz Carvalho
• 28Lukic
• 30Carlos Vinicius
• 35François
• 57Great

Everton

formation 4-4-1-1

1Pickford

22Gottfried6Tarkovsky32Branthwaite19Mykolenko

18Young7McNeil37Garner10Danjuma

11Harrison

9Calvert Lewin

• 1Pickford
• 22GottfriedBooked for 28 minutes
• 6Tarkovsky
• 32BranthwaiteBooked for 42 minutes
• 19Mykolenko
• 18YoungReplaced byPattersonat 81'protocol
• 7McNeil
• 37Garner
• 10DanjumaReplaced byDobbinat 90'protocol
• 11Harrison
• 9Calvert LewinReplaced byGomes Betuncalat 81'protocol

Substitute

• 2Patterson
• 5Keane
• 12Virginia Neves
• 14Gomes Betuncal
• 28Ramalho Chermiti
• 31Lonergan
• 58hunt
• 61Dobbin
• 86Metcalfe

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Number of visitors: 24,376

Live text

1. The game ends: Fulham 0, Everton 0.

2. The second half ends, Fulham 0, Everton 0.

3. Foul by Antonee Robinson (Fulham).

4. Beto (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Attempt failed. Beto (Everton) tries with his right foot from very close range, but the ball misses to the right. Assisted by Ben Godfrey following a corner.

6. Attempt failed. Ben Godfrey's (Everton) right-footed shot from point-blank range goes high and far to the right. Assisted by Beto after a corner.

7. Attempt blocked. Ben Godfrey (Everton)'s right-footed shot from point-blank range is blocked. Assisted by Beto.

8. Attempt blocked. Ben Godfrey (Everton)'s right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box is blocked.

9. Attempt failed. Lewis Dobbin (Everton)'s header from the left side of the six-yard box goes wide to the right. Assisted by James Garner with a cross from a corner.

10. Corner, Everton. Granted by João Palhinha.

11. Attempt blocked. James Garner (Everton)'s left-footed shot from a distance is blocked. Assisted by Beto.

12. Attempt failed. Beto's (Everton) header from close range is a bit too high. Assisted by James Tarkowski with a header pass from a corner.

13. Corner, Everton. Goal conceded by Tim Ream.

14. Attempt blocked. Beto (Everton)'s right-footed shot from a distance is blocked.

15. Attempt saved. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham)'s header from the center of the penalty area is saved at the top center of the goal. Assisted by Bobby De Cordova-Reid with a cross.

16. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

17. Substitution Everton. Lewis Dobbin replaces Arnaut Danjuma due to injury.

18. Game delayed due to injury to Arnaut Danjuma (Everton).

19. Tom Cairney (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

20. Foul by James Tarkowski (Everton).