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Fulham 0 Everton 0: Pickford masterclass secures Blues a point

By Matt Townsend

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Dwight McNeil of Everton vies for possession with Kenny Tete of Fulham FC during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Everton FC at Craven Cottage on October 29, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Dwight McNeil of Everton vies for possession with Kenny Tete of Fulham FC during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Everton FC at Craven Cottage on October 29, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Everton held free-scoring Fulham goalless at Craven Cottage tonight as Jordan Pickford produced another superb individual performance to help his team secure a draw.

In truth, Everton really had their England star goalkeeper to thank for allowing them to come away from West London with a point.

In both the first and second half Pickford was called upon to make a succession of great saves from Fulham’s dangerous attacking players.

And, while the away team had a few chances themselves – Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a good chance in the first half and had the ball in the net in the second before it was ruled out – the Toffees’ were again generally lacklustre in attack.

It can’t be emphasied enough but it needs re-stating once more; the Blues’ must do everything they can to strengthen their attacking resources in the January transfer window.

While the defence was again solid (although the Cottagers did create a lot of half chances especially from their wide players) Everton can’t just rely soley on not conceding and win many Premier League matches without creating a lot more offensively.

In addition, the Toffees’ gradually retreated again in the second half and started giving the ball away too cheaply.

The difference between these teams was on display with Fulham creating a slew of opportunities in both halfs and had Aleksandar Mitrovic had his shooting boots on, they would have surely won by two or three goals.

That player almost shouldn’t have been on the pitch after he made a terrible tackle on Idrissa Gueye early in the match, which was only punished by a yellow card.

I can’t help thinking if the team colours had been reversed, I’m sure the Blues’ player would have been sent off for that tackle.

Anyway, having escaped that fate, he really should have scored at least once but he found the England international keeper in his way.

Pickford has been in excellent form throughout this season so far and he has produced several subline performances like the derby game against Liverpool.

He had to be at his best again tonight as Marco Silva has created an entertaining and offensively potent side at Craven Cottage.

He must have been desperate for them to put on a great show to remind his former employers what they missed out on.

I always felt Silva might have been a success at Goodison Park had he not experienced some bad luck in 2019 losing key players – especially Gueye – and not getting the players in he had wanted during that summer transfer window.

Well that’s all history now of course, but it does look as though he’s built a team that will not lack for goals this season. Whether that will be enough to keep them up in the end we shall see.

But this it is very different from the Toffees’ team he faced tonight as it was another seriously shot-shy effort from the visitors away from home.

And, it reminds us all that despite some fine performances particularly last weekend’s big win over Crystal Palace, much more is needed for this side to truly kick on in this campaign.

Looking at things positively, securing a point away from home against an in-form Premier League side is not something to be sniffed at.

However, the match once again underlined the fact that despite all the progress made since the summer, Everton are still some way from being a genuinely able to push on.