Fulham manager Roy Hodgson rued his side’s poor finishing as the Whites’ miserable Merseyside record was extended by former striker Louis Saha’s late show at Goodison Park.
The visitors more than matched Everton for most of the ninety minutes but failed to put away a number of presentable chances in the second half. After Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera had hit the frame of the goal, Saha’s 87th minute header clinched all three points for Everton.
Hodgson told the press afterwards that he felt Fulham were good value for a point. “I felt we had done enough to get a point, obviously it is goals that matter and we had two gilt-edged chances in the second-half to take the lead and didn’t manage it.
“Jimmy Bullard’s free-kick created the chance for Bobby Zamora, and he hit the post. While Gera rattled the crossbar with a header. We missed them both, but we were still defending very well and contained Everton’s growing threats when they kept putting on strikers.
“Unfortunately they found a way to get in a cross and Louis produced an excellent header, and there was not much time for us after that. It is a bitterly disappointing way to lose after the team had worked so hard, we deserved one point, at least.
“We worked hard all game to stop the crosses getting into the box and we succeeded in that until just that one at the end, it could have been any time but it is not anything to do with lack of effort. The work-rate and commitment was commendable. We were playing a top team who are difficult on their own ground.”
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