Fulham manager Martin Jol missed the match because of a chest infection and first-team coach Billy McKinlay admitted explaining the defeat to his boss was not something he was relishing.
“I’ve not spoken to him after the game so I’m not looking forward to that conversation,” he said.
“It is always difficult when the manager is not there because you miss his presence but we prepared as we always do for the games.
“How much it affected us I don’t know but obviously it affected us at some point because he is not here and hopefully he will be back Tuesday (at Liverpool).”
McKinlay said there were no excuses for the performance.
“It was really disappointing. Everton thoroughly deserved their win,” he added.
“No aspects of our play were at a level we were happy with.
“We started the game poorly and never got going and if you lose poor goals at the times we did and the way we did you won’t get the result you are looking for.
“Early on it gave them a bit of momentum and we never got near the levels we are capable of.
“It was a long afternoon. There are lot of disappointed guys in the dressing room.”
