Everton player ratings vs Fulham as Beto the hero but three poor
A dramatic last-gasp equaliser from substitute Beto saved Everton against Fulham as the striker headed powerfully past Bernt Leno with just seconds remaining on the clock to extend the Blues’ unbeaten run to five matches.
Sean Dyche’s side’s recent revival had looked like it would be halted when Blues old boy Alex Iwobi came back to haunt his previous employers with a goal just after the hour mark.
At truth the hosts were far from being at their best and they lost Dwight McNeil to injury late on, but their spirited fightback at least ensured another of their alumni Marco Silva was denied a fourth triumph here in his last quartet of visits.
READ MORE: Everton wait on James Garner review as Sean Dyche offers injury update
Jordan Pickford 6
Was offered little protection for Alex Iwobi’s goal as the former Everton player was given the freedom of Goodison Park to pick his spot, he earlier saved well from Adama’s angled drive but an Ashley Young back pass that bobbled forced him to slice into touch on his right foot.
Ashley Young 7
Redeemed himself with a stoppage time assist as he crossed the ball to Beto, as, like Dwight McNeil, he couldn’t get close enough to Emile Smith Rowe in the build-up to Fulham’s goal and other than the aforementioned back pass, he had a challenging time as there was often little on in front of him.
Vitalii Mykolenko 6
Picked out McNeil with a decent cross late in the first half but like several of his team-mates he looked ponderous and presented Adama with an opening by giving away possession cheaply.
James Tarkowski 6
He and Keane could get close enough to Iwobi to block the shot for his goal and while he’d earlier muscled his way out of trouble on several occasions, he was booked for a hefty challenge on Issa Diop moments after Everton complained Smith Rowe wasn’t penalised for his tackle on Gueye.
Michael Keane 6
Was rewarded for his colossal display at both ends against Ipswich by retaining his place despite Jarrad Branthwaite’s return to fitness but was more tentative here and like Tarkowski, allowed Iwobi to get between them and score and finished the game playing up front alongside Beto.
Idrissa Gueye 6
Was left in Iwobi’s wake for the goal, he’d been fighting fires for most of the evening other than when his shot that rattled the crossbar allowed Calvert-Lewin to slam in the rebound, but the striker was offside.
Abdoulaye Doucoure 5
He did well in the deep role alongside Gueye last week but for all his hustle and bustle, there needs to be more control in there and he made way late on as Everton chased an equaliser.
Jack Harrison 5
Made way after Everton fell behind, he working hard for the cause but for all his endeavour, you’d like to see him put more balls into dangerous areas as he’s capable of doing so.
Dwight McNeil 5
Forced off through injury late on, he allowed Smith Rowe to give him the slip as the Fulham midfielder burst forward to tee up the goal for Iwobi, he spurned a first half chance that he headed too close and flitting around on the edge of the action.
Iliman Ndiaye 7
Always capable of producing a spark of inspiration, he battled hard without many breakthroughs on an evening in which he got considerably less change out of his Fulham markers than he’d done against Ipswich Town, although it was his ball that started the move for the stoppage time equaliser.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6
A frustrating night for the striker, he went down easily in the area early on under Calvin Bassey’s challenge but little came his way until he fired the rebound from Gueye’s shot into the net only to be denied by an offside flag which VAR confirmed.
SUBS
Jesper Lindstrom (on 68 for Harrison) 6
Was introduced on the right wing as Everton chased an equaliser and although he got a shot on target soon after, his injection of pace failed to make a breakthrough.
Orel Mangala (on 80 for Doucoure) 6
Brought on to try and bring some additional control in midfield.
Beto (on 80 for Calvert-Lewin) 8
Everton’s last-gasp saviour with a bullet header, a super sub who saved the Blues with a spirited late showing.
Jarrad Branthwaite (on 86 for McNeil)
Introduced in the latter stages as Keane moved up front to play emergency centre-forward.