(Photograph: Daniel Hambury/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock)
There was only one winner at half-time. Fulham were 1-0 up and cruising. Their football was a delight to watch and the only possible complaint from Marco Silva was that his side had not made more of their dominance.
Fulham rued the profligacy. Everton responded with the defiance that characterises every David Moyes side. This was not the prettiest of wins, but it was an impressive comeback. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalised in the 75th minute and Everton rose to seventh after Bernd Leno, who was at fault for both goals, punched a corner into his own net eight minutes later.
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The teams were level on points at kick-off. Both were combative in midfield and Everton almost led after an industrious start. James Garner was first to go close, testing Leno with a free-kick from a tight angle, and Jake O’Brien was unfortunate not to score when he sent a looping header against a post from the resulting corner.
Fulham looked to make the most of that escape. O’Brien was soon called into action at the other end, heading off the line when Sander Berge threatened. Everton, so sturdy on the road this season, began to creak. They struggled with the speed and quality of Fulham’s movement and were behind after being sliced apart by a clever team move in the 18th minute.
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Smart runs off the ball were a constant feature of Fulham’s play. Ryan Sessegnon offered dynamism from left-back and Emile Smith Rowe schemed in the pockets. Unsure who they were meant to be picking up, Everton were duly punished. Two of Fulham’s Nigeria internationals linked, Samuel Chukwueze’s chip finding Alex Iwobi as the midfielder ghosted into the area, and a goal beckoned when the ball ran to Raúl Jiménez. The striker shot at Jordan Pickford, but the Everton goalkeeper’s save hit Vitalii Mykolenko and went in off the left-back for an own goal.
The lucky nature of the goal could not be held against Fulham. They were full of good ideas during the first half. They targeted O’Brien at right-back and threatened to make it 2-0 when another move down the left led to a chance for Chukwueze, whose snapshot was pushed aside by Pickford.
Fulham should have been out of sight at half-time. Smith Rowe and Chukwueze sent efforts against the woodwork from long range, Harry Wilson blazed over when well placed and Jiménez produced a glaring miss. Somehow, Everton had hope. Harrison Armstrong almost made it 1-1, only to volley wide from an Iliman Ndiaye cross.
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The mood changed in the second half. Fulham’s level dropped and Everton pushed up, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gueye imposing themselves in midfield. The visitors still needed more in open play, though.
Everton’s threat had been limited to James Tarkowski heading over from a corner. With 15 minutes left, though, their graft was rewarded. Mykolenko broke down the left and cut the ball back for Dewsbury-Hall, whose low shot squirmed through Leno’s dive.
Fulham, who had been reduced to playing on the break, were unable to lift themselves. Everton grabbed the opportunity. Tyrique George, introduced for his debut after joining on loan from Chelsea, made an impact in attack. The winger was involved when Everton won a corner in the 83rd minute.
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Everton’s set pieces were menacing all afternoon. Dewsbury-Hall delivered from the right. O’Brien pinned Leno to his line and the goalkeeper was too weak. He tried to punch the ball away, but succeeded in knocking it into his own goal to complete Everton’s revival and extend their unbeaten run on their travels to five games.