Collins John scores Fulham's only goal at Everton

On this sort of form James Beattie could be heading for the World Cup finals, Everton back into Europe and Fulham into a relegation scrap.

Beattie scored twice, his second a stunning chip, taking his tally to 11 for the season in a comprehensive victory - Everton's sixth on the trot at Goodison Park.

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson watched him score an equally impressive goal at West Ham last week and must have him on a 'possibles' shortlist for Germany.

Everton have now lost just once in 10 league games and have a genuine chance of grabbing a UEFA Cup spot.

Fulham, notoriously poor on the road this season, were abject. They lost for the 13th consecutive time at Goodison Park and are far from safe from the drop, Birmingham now eight points behind with a game in hand. Fulham, worryingly, have Liverpool and Chelsea as their next two games.

The Cottagers included midfielder Mark Pembridge against his former club for his first senior game of the season after recovering from a calf injury.

Everton brought back goalkeeper Richard Wright after recovering from a knee problem, with on-loan Sander Westerveld left on the bench.

The Toffees, with Europe still a target, were instantly on the attack against a lethargic Fulham and Mikel Arteta set off on one splendid run down the line and into the box before seeing his low cross missed by everybody.

Brian McBride had a free-kick blocked, and then bouncing around the box, without a colleague able to get a telling connection. But the home side were very much on top.

It was no surprise when Everton found themselves ahead from a 13th-minute penalty.

Zat Knight clumsily clattered into the back of Beattie in the box, sending the striker tumbling. He got up to crash the spot-kick past Warner.

Knight attempted to make amends by arriving late onto a Simon Elliott free-kick, but he planted a firm header straight into Wright's arms from eight yards. That was about it from the Cottagers in the first half as Everton swarmed around their box.

The Merseysiders possessed the more telling cutting edge and after good work by Tim Cahill and Nuno Valente, Beattie rose to headed inches wide of a post.

Alan Stubbs headed an Arteta corner over before the little Basque exchanged passes with Phil Neville before forcing Warner into a low save to his left.

Then Beattie scored a goal of outstanding quality after 37 minutes. Cahill turned a pass back to the striker on the edge of the box, and Beattie executed an exquisite chip with his right foot that cleared a startled Warner and dropped into the far corner.

From the re-start Arteta saw a header from a Leon Osman cross saved by Warner, and then Osman had a go himself, sending a 20-yard effort flashing wide.

Fulham looked even more feeble than they did in the first period, failing to reach challenges and losing possession and they were unsurprisingly three down after 54 minutes.

David Weir's long ball was nodded down by Beattie for James McFadden to unleash a stunning, dipping 25-yard shot that soared past Warner.

Neville then managed to get himself booked for a two-handed block on a Warner clearance that was almost as daft as Gary Breen's for Sunderland last weekend.

Fulham brought on Collins John for Heidar Helguson and Everton sent on Simon Davies for Valente and Kevin Kilbane for McFadden.

Then John got to the line to lay on a chance that Luis Boa Morte flicked narrowly wide, but it did little to halt the Everton flow, and they were able to bring on Andy van der Meyde for Cahill after 82 minutes.

Osman and Arteta had long-range efforts blocked by Warner. Tony Hibbert was next to try his luck with a cross-shot that totally confused Warner, who was fortunate to see it speed wide.

Fulham did pull one back when Hibbert clipped John in the box and then got up to score from the spot after 85 minutes. It created a late flurry that almost saw Brian McBride score - Stubbs being booked for protesting over the absence of an offside flag.

Wright then saved from McBride, but the Londoners' late spark into life should not mask a genuinely shocking display.

Everton Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs,Nuno Valente (Davies 77), Osman, Cahill (Van der Meyde 83),Neville, Arteta, McFadden (Kilbane 77), Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Westerveld, Yobo.

Booked: Neville, Stubbs.

Goals: Beattie 14 pen, 36, McFadden 55.

Fulham Warner, Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior,Elliott (Christanval 43), Pembridge, Boa Morte, Malbranque,McBride, Helguson (John 74).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Goma, Niclas Jensen.

Booked: Liam Rosenior (36,d), Carlos Bocanegra (81,f).

Goals: Collins John pen 86, Power penalty taken right-footed by Collins John into low centre of goal.

Att: 36,515

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).