Everton 2 Fulham 1: Mikel Arteta’s late winner means Everton’s still have outside hopes of snatching Europa League spot
DAVID MOYES was spared any gushing dedications from his players on his birthday.
The public address announcer who gave the game away prior to kick-off yesterday may have something to answer for, but there were no emotional outbursts following Everton’s late, late win over Fulham.
Mikel Arteta’s injury-time penalty kept alive Everton’s fading hopes of a Europa League position and ensured Moyes had a number of reasons to celebrate on his 47th big day.
“How old is he, 63?” quipped Arteta afterwards.
“I don’t think any of the lads knew it was his birthday.”
Not one for sentiment, that’s no doubt how Moyes wanted it.
The Everton manager will know that, although his team again displayed the kind of spirit expected of a side challenging for Europe at this stage of the season, results elsewhere will have kept any celebrations in check.
Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Birmingham earlier in the day has put them out of sight and Martin O’Neill’s side are now guaranteed at least a Europa League place.
Of more concern were events at Turf Moor.
Liverpool’s 4-0 thumping of Burnley not only condemned the Clarets back to the Championship, but also meant anything less than a home win at Goodison would have spelled the end of the Blues’ quest for Europe.
As it happened, Arteta’s late salvo, with a mere 25 seconds of injury time remaining, maintains a five-point gap between the Mersey rivals with two games to go.
Reality dictates Everton are still depending on a monumental collapse across the park.
But with a trip to Stoke next week while Chelsea arrive at Anfield, at least it keeps things interesting.
Yes, it’s out of Everton’s hands but the fact they’re even in with a shout after a disastrous start to the season is a success in itself.
A measly 14 points from their first 15 league games had some predicting relegation at this late juncture.
Compare this to a run that now extends to just two defeats in the last 23 games and there is good reason for Moyes to be considered alongside Fulham manager Roy Hodgson when it comes to drawing up the manager of the year nominations in the coming weeks.
Successive draws against Wolves, Villa and West Ham haven’t helped matters of late.
