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Mark Ryan at Daily Mail |
Everton (1) 1 Fulham (0) 0
The sound of silence only increased the sense of uncertainty at Goodison Park yesterday. Sure, the nervous crowd gave a hearty cheer when Steven Pienaar rounded off a sumptuous move for the decisive goal.
And they sighed when substitute Ross Barkley's curling finish was brilliantly saved by Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer in the last minute of normal time.
But the cheer at the final whistle was half-hearted, especially when there is still a faint hope of Champions League qualification.
Fans do not seem to know what to make of what is happening - on or off the field. So silence was prevalent.
Silence from David Moyes about his future, when the club that have employed him for 11 years would like to hear if he intends to stay.
'End of the season,' is still the Moyes mantra.
'After 11 years you'd like to think you'd be given the respect and time for the decision.'
Yesterday there was mostly silence from fans, unsure if a Europa League place was worth shouting about.
But the key chance in the 16th minute was so well created it was almost too easy to miss and cried out for appreciation.
Leon Osman's vision gave Seamus Coleman time to cross from the right. Pienaar simply kept his cool to slide his shot past Schwarzer.
'It was a terrific goal, nice intricate play and a good finish,' said Moyes. 'Steven played well, he knitted us together and the goal will do him a power of good.'
Dimitar Berbatov hobbled off early.
'He has a tear in his calf, he says he is a quick healer but who knows if he will play again this season?' said Fulham boss Martin Jol.
His replacement, Mladen Petric, almost netted from Kieran Richardson's cross but they had few chances.
'It's not useless but it's not good enough,' Jol admitted about his side's away form.
Everton seemed lazy in their approach at times.
No wonder Moyes kicked over a water bottle holder in disgust when second-half possession was squandered.
Fulham might have drawn level in the 55th minute but Urby Emanuelson lifted a good chance over the bar.
And Everton should have doubled their lead when Leighton Baines sent in a searching late cross which found Marouane Fellaini but the Belgian bounced his volley over the bar.
Moyes can now look ahead to his 50th birthday this weekend.
'It'll be a wild Scottish rave,' he joked. 'All Scottish food and Scottish people, no English at all.'
The wilder the better. Someone has to break this peculiar silence.
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Mirallas, Osman, Fellaini, Pienaar, Jelavic (Barkley 67), Anichebe.
Subs Not Used: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Oviedo, Naismith, Duffy.
Goal: Pienaar 16.
Yellow card: Osman
Fulham: Schwarzer, Manolev, Senderos, Hangeland, Richardson (Duff 56), Emanuelson, Karagounis (Rodallega 77), Enoh, Kacaniklic, Ruiz, Berbatov (Petric 30).
Subs Not Used: Etheridge, Frimpong, Hughes, Frei.
Yellow card: Enoh, Emanuelson.
Att: 34,563
Ref: Jon Moss.
Source .