Fulham 2 Everton 1:DAMIEN DUFF is a footballer who deserves a change of fortune. After a nightmarish spell at Newcastle United, which was scarred by physical injury and psychological torment, he transferred to Fulham in search of the good times .
As he departed Craven Cottage yesterday, he could feel them roll once again. The winger had been part of the Republic of Ireland’s vital World Cup qualifying win away to Cyprus last Saturday, which has set them fair for a play-off shot at the finals in South Africa and, back on domestic duty, he settled this encounter in his team’s favour with a searing late drive, which careered beyond the clutches of the Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and flew into the bottom corner.
It was some way to register his first goal for Fulham and not even the knock that forced him off before full-time could dampen his afternoon.
It was the proverbial game of two halves. Everton led through Tim Cahill’s header and they appeared ready to close out a much-needed victory, having entered the game with two defeats from three in the Premier League. Cahill’s goal was his 38th for the club in the Premier League and half of that tally have been from headers.
But instead Fulham rallied and, after Paul Konchesky’s heavily deflected effort had restored parity, Duff got the goal that kick-started their season. It was Fulham who secured the second win of their league campaign.
David Moyes, the Everton manager, was left to reflect on what might have been. He had given a vote of confidence to the right-back Tony Hibbert and the left-winger Steven Pienaar, persisting with them in his starting line-up and leaving the expensive new signings John Heitinga and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on the substitutes bench.
Moyes’s faith in the young midfielder Jack Rodwell also remains apparent. The home-grown hope continues to start ahead of Marouane Fellaini and it was Rodwell who almost fashioned the breakthrough in a stop-start and generally niggly first half.
He tried his luck from long-range and, when the shot deflected off Aaron Hughes, the Fulham debutant goalkeeper David Stockdale had to change directions in a flash to block.
The referee, Peter Walton, was too central to the action in the first half for the neutral or, indeed, the two managers; Moyes threw his arms about in exasperation on the touchline. Walton’s decision to penalise Danny Murphy for a foul on Pienaar, however, was indisputable and, from the free-kick whipped in by Leighton Baines, Everton forged ahead. Cahill rose above Dickson Etuhu to power home his header.
Fulham’s fans in the Hammersmith End, who were forced to endure the Australian’s celebratory boxing routine with the corner flag, appeared unaware that Cahill appeared to have started his run from an offside position.
The home team’s best efforts in the first half came from Clint Dempsey but when he jumped to meet Duff crosses, he could not direct his headers or fashion sufficient power.
Everton might have extended their advantage before the interval but Hughes made a saving tackle on Leon Osman, after he had burst through.
Murphy’s free-kick from the edge of the penalty area struck the defensive wall but Konchesky’s effort on the rebound flicked off Distin and wrong-footed Howard. It was Konchesky’s second goal in 85 appearances for the club.
Everton were undermined further soon afterwards when they lost their captain, Phil Neville, following a sickening clash with Etuhu. Both players leapt in for the ball but Etuhu, following through, clattered his studs into Neville’s left leg.
After lengthy attention from the physiotherapist, Neville was carried off on a stretcher. Fulham entered a purple patch and Duff’s goal was the crowning moment.
