EVERTON will kick off their battle for Premier League survival today where it really matters behind closed doors of an office.
The one on the pitch did not go so well last night as they slipped into the top flight relegation zone.
An appeal hearing against a ten points deduction for breaking spending rules is expected to last three days with an outcome expected next month.
In the meantime, boss Sean Dyche must try to turn things around with a team that now has only one win in nine games.
And revitalised Luton’s 4-0 thumping of Brighton means they swap places with the rejuvenated Hatters in the bottom three.
The outcome of the courtroom drama has never been more important. Neither has Dyche’s reputation as an expert man manager.
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He celebrated his paper anniversary as Everton manager last night by drawing. And it wasn’t a pretty picture.
While his team was unlucky not to take the lead in the first half from a game of penalty box pinball from a free kick, it also took the reliable cat-like reactions of keeper Jordan Pickford to stop Everton from losing this match and dropping deeper into trouble.
Pickford pawed away a stunning header from Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo with 14 minutes left and his team under the cosh.
He also tipped a powerful shot from Antonee Robinson round the post in the first half.
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Pickford was also on hand when a cock up between Dwight McNeil and Jarrad Braithwaite put Fulham sub Rodrigo Muniz clean through in another hair-raising moment.
Dyche is having a lot of luck at the moment – and all of it bad.
The hearing into the extraordinary ten point punishment for overspending is really what will define his first year in charge more than anything on the pitch.
At least he could have sat on his hands for the next three days with a small consolation had he had the rub of the green at Craven Cottage.
The visitors came closest to a goal in the 25th minute from Ashley Young’s low curling free kick that sparked chaos in the box.
The turf level ball was palmed clear at ground level by keeper Bernd Leno. It spun to James Tarkowski who lumped it goalwards.
The shot cannoned off Issa Diop then backspun off the top of the bar and bounced down and back towards the goal-line via the upper body of Fulham full back Antonee Robinson.
With it three quarters over the line, full back Timothy Castagne appeared to hoof the ball clear in a bizarre let off for the home side.
Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma then spurned a cracking chance in the 32nd minute by blasting a shot high and wide at the end of a quick counter attack.
Wastefulness was not exclusive to Dyche’s team however and Fulham striker Raul Jimenez was left cursing himself four minutes from the break when Tarkowski’s inadvertent deflection put him in the clear from close range only to slash the ball wide of the post.
Jimenez left the pitch at the break clutching his left leg and did not appear for the second half – joining midfielder Harry Wilson on the sick list at Craven Cottage.
The quality of football did not improve much after the break, although Pickford provided some highlights with his series of saves.
At the other end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed against the crossbar and sub striker Beto managed to head over unmarked from three yards out in injury time.
Fulham defender Timothy Castagne also headed against the woodwork.
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Everton say they were “shocked and disappointed” by the Premier League ruling which has driven a wrecking ball through their season.
They need to be more clinical with the opposition across a table this week than they were at Fulham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
