On an afternoon that was as much about the past and the future as the present, there were few signs that an era is ending at Goodison Park. With his contract expiring in the summer, this may prove David Moyes's penultimate home game in charge. However, it merely felt like an end-of-season encounter where, because of Steven Pienaar's winner, Everton maintained their faint hopes of finishing fifth and entering the Europa League next season.
They are on course to win the private league of the Merseyside clubs and were able to welcome actual champions. Everton were commemorating the 50th anniversary of their title in 1963, which was secured against Fulham, and five survivors of Harry Catterick's team took to the pitch at half-time. Moyes marked a half-century of his own, his 50th birthday having fallen on Thursday, and the subplot of the season has been the question if he will be managing Everton when he turns 51.
Increasingly, however, the indications are that the Scot will remain an Evertonian. "The goal now for myself and the club is to continue to build on what we've already achieved," he wrote in the matchday programme, suggesting a continuity. Foundations have been laid in a season of typical endeavour and one of Everton's most industrious players is also among their most improved.
Their goal offered an illustration of Seamus Coleman's vim and verve. After slick interplay with Kevin Mirallas, Leon Osman released the overlapping Irishman who cut the ball back for Pienaar to slide his shot in. While there has been a season-long focus on the threat provided by Leighton Baines on Everton's left flank, their other full-back is proving equally adventurous.
Everton had almost led earlier when Fellaini met Kevin Mirallas's corner with a header that Mark Schwarzer blocked on his line. They could have doubled their advantage when the jinking, juggling Mirallas finished a solo run with a volley Schwarzer pushed to safety, Fellaini missed an open goal after a superb cross from Baines and the goalkeeper denied Ross Barkley a first Everton goal. Nevertheless, one proved enough.
Fulham made a muted start and Dimitar Berbatov lasted less than half an hour, providing a cameo that was only notable for a yell of frustration at Alex Kacaniklic when the Swede delayed his pass too long, resulting in the Bulgarian straying offside. They actually improved without their top scorer and his replacement, Mladen Petric, was inches from equalising when he flung himself at Kieran Richardson's drilled cross-shot but just could not apply a telling touch.
Urby Emmanuelson then passed up the chance to open his Fulham account, lifting a shot high over the bar when found by Kacaniklic but the outcome was all too familiar. Fulham have never won a league game at Goodison Park. This was a 20th successive pointless trip. Their last league draw came back in 1959, back in the days before Catterick, let alone Moyes.
Via: - Argentine football
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