Bobby Decordova-Reid celebrates his winning goal at Everton with his Fulham team-mates (Photo: Gavin Megaw)
Bobby Decordova-Reid punished Everton for missing a host of chances and clinched Fulham’s first opening day Premier League win for a decade in the Goodison Park sunshine this afternoon.
The Jamaican international, a boyhood Liverpool fan, proved an inspired half time substitute for Marco Silva. Decordova-Reid pounced at the back post to score the winner after wonderful work from two fellow substitutes in the shape of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andreas Pereira. Mitrovic shrugged off an injury scare to play a beautiful ball in behind the Everton back line before Decordova-Reid profited from a lovely low ball across goal from Pereira.
But Fulham’s man of the match was undoubtedly the outstanding Bernd Leno, who was only beaten when he had been impeded in claiming a free kick by James Tarkowski. The hosts were furious that referee Stuart Attwell ruled out Michael Keane’s goal after Tarkowski had challenged in Leno in air, but there were other offences including a potential offisde and a handball. Everton only had themselves to blame for some woeful finishing as they sorely missed the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Leno should have been beaten by Neal Maupay inside the first minute but the former Brentford forward dragged his drive wide of the far post.
Fulham’s German goalkeeper, one of the signings of last season, spread himself superbly to deny the rampaging Abdoulaye Doucoure in a one-on-one and then thwarted the luckless Maupay twice as the Toffees piled on the pressure before the end of the first half. Fulham played plenty of pretty football but their lack of incision in the final third left debutant Raul Jimenez so isolated that the visitors failed to muster a shot on target in the first half.
Fulham proved far more threatening with Decordova-Reid’s introduction for the ineffectual Willian, but the Cottagers were still indebted to Leno who flung himself to his right go repel a piledriver from Alex Iwobi. It seemed straightforward for Nathan Pa7tterson to find the net from the follow up but the Rangers full back rattled the crossbar with the Fulham goalkeeper grounded.
The hard working Jimenez was unfortunate not to poke Fulham ahead when he hooked an effort from Harry Wilson’s cross on to the base of the far post. It was the Mexican’s last contribution before making way for Mitrovic, whose hulking presence perked up Fulham’s forward line.
The Serbian striker almost killed the game when he brought down a cross at the back post and tested Jordan Pickford’s reflexes – but the England keeper wasn’t found wanting. Mitrovic was furious that he wasn’t awarded a penalty when his goal bound effort struck Tarkowski’s hand but the visitors held on to register a smash and grab success.
EVERTON (4-5-1): Pickford; Patterson, Young, Keane, Tarkowski; Garner (Dobbin 83), Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, Doucouré, Maupay (Danjuma 72). Subs (not used): João VirgÃnia, Mykolenko, André Gomes, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Cannon, Onyango.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Ream; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, Willian (De Cordova-Reid 45), Cairney (Pereira 58); Jimenez (Mitrovic 58). Subs (not used): Rodak, Mbabu, Bassey, Dibley-Dias, Stansfield, Vinicius.
BOOKED: Willian, Tete.
GOAL: De Corodova-Reid (73).
REFEREE: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton).
ATTENDANCE: 39,940.
We have Leno to thank for the win, we had plenty of possession but no end product we didn’t have a single shot on target in the first half, and we were only slightly better in the second half, we definitely need a few new signings and preferably better than what we have already or we are going to struggle this season.
We rode our luck, but that is also a sign of strength. Quality players bring results, and surely Leno is class. Let’s do better at the Cottage and kill some bees next.
Leno was magnificent. We certainly road our luck. Mitro got stuck in, but Willian was ineffective, which is rare for him . Has he got Saudi Arabia on his mind. Sorry that Bassey did not feature, Pereira made a vaste different when he was introduced. We still urgently require some new signings but a win is a win even though it was not deserved
Tony’s shopping in Poundland again, with Troare’s signing.
Leno won the match for us. Our defence looked dodgy and we susceptible to attacks down the wings. I was surprised Ream played the whole match he is not up to full match fitness and not unsurprisingly very slow. I would have expected Bassey to feature as he looks a good buy and will add something to our squad.