The best result till date in my short managerial career! We dominated the game right from the word go. The boys were absolutely brilliant and
Beattie played the inspirational captain's role to perfection.
We went ahead as early as the 2nd minute as our attacking game paid off.
Zat Knight's clearance put the ball out of play and
Yobo's strong throw in was flicked on by
Nuno Valente straight in to the on-rushing
Beattie's path and the skipper took a touch and fired an unstoppable shot low to the left of the startled
Antti Niemi.
Beattie's frenzied celebrations were absolutely understandable as he ended a severe goal draught and that was our first Premiership goal for this season. Fulham's confidence obviously took a tonk and they started to play with less flair as they looked to consolidate.
The effervescent
Daniel Carvalho went close on scoring his first goal for the team in the 15th minute but his rasping shot from 20 yards was tipped away by
Niemi.
Arteta was in inspired form again as he unfurled a series of beautiful passes to
Beattie and
Carvalho as we started to consolidate our possession in the midfield.
Simon Davies should have doubled our advantage but he wastefully glanced a header away of another
Arteta's cross.
Beattie was almost certain to score in the 35th minute but his goal bound shot from the edge of the box was spectacularly cleared of the line by
Papa Bouba Diop.
But the lead was doubled deservedly 5 minutes later when
Onyewu's through ball to the right flank was beautifully curled in by
Maniche and
James Beattie made absolutely no mistake as he let a beautiful volley past
Niemi's outstreched hands. 2 - 0 in 40 minutes.
An inspired Beattie celebrates his second
It was a well earned goal for
Beattie who was having a magical night. Fulham almost got one back in when
Diop let loose a rasping drive which bounced away to safety off the post.
After surviving the scare I switched the game play style to consolidate the lead. We went to half time with thr two goal cushion. After the break I brought on
Phil Neville for the less than impressive
van der Meyde in the left flank.
Andy was not having the best of the games and we were in danger of being exposed by the wily
Malbranque.
Out: Andy van der Meyde
In: Phil Neville
(46 Minutes)
We went close to scoring again as
Phil Neville's delightful cross was met by a powerful header by
Carvalho but was palmed away by
Niemi. Davies fired yet another shot wide from 13 yards and I decided to bring him off for
Leon Osman.
Out: Simon Davies
In: Leon Osman
(64 Minutes)
With just under 30 minutes to go, I instructed the team to get on the defensive. Fulham got another chance to score when
Diop's header of a
Claus Jensen corner was tipped away by
Sebastian Frey.
At 78 minutes, I called off the magnificient
Beattie and gave yesterday's signing
Leroy Lita a taste of Premiership action.
Beattie walked away to a standing ovation and was hugged by the boys in the bench and the stands. I clipped his shoulder and said "Let this be just the beginning mate" for which he showed his thumbs-up and slumped in the bench.
Out: James Beattie
In: Leroy Lita
(64 Minutes)
Lita's introduction was decisive as his pace was complemented by
Carvalho and the duo wrecked havoc amidst the Fulham defence.
Lita was unlucky not to score on his debut as he played a neat 1 - 2 with
Carvalho but his crisp shot bounced away off the upright!
The defence was unflappable with
Onyewu cutting a class above.
Maniche and
Arteta were brilliant as we held on to the score and ran away comfortable winners.
The noise level of the crowd reached an almighty high as the last whistle was blown. The crowd kept on chanting
"Everton! oh Everton" as our unbeaten streak stretched on to 5 games.
Bring them on!
