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Everton 2-0 Fulham

Everton snatched two goals in a minute at the end of the first half as David Moyes's side put behind them the pain of last Sunday's defeat at Aston Villa.

But the game was marred by a melee in the dying minutes

Saturday's Premiership action in pictures

Although not as bad as the mass brawl between the two teams in last years clash at Craven Cottage, the incident will feature in referee Steve Dunn's report.

The Merseyside team provided much more in attack and more concentration in defence than the one that was sunk by Dion Dublin's late goal last weekend.

After starting brightly, Fulham were stunned as first Kevin Campbell put Everton ahead in the 45th minute and seconds later Thomas Gravesen notched a second.

Key moments

45 mins: Kevin Campbell's header eases Everton's nerves

45 mins: Thomas Gravesen' shot doubles Everton's lead

Twice this season - against Middlesbrough and Spurs - Fulham have retrieved two-goal deficits to win the points, but Everton were not so accommodating.

Defensively, Fulham were never the same once Alain Goma had departed because of injury.

Goma and Campbell had crashed to the floor as Edwin van der Sar pulled down a David Unsworth cross - and the French defender soon limped off to be replaced by Welshman Andy Melville.

Fulham had come close to scoring before Goma's departure.

Sylvain Legwinski's effort was half-blocked by Richard Wright. Unsworth then cleared Steed Malbranque's follow-up before Barry Hayles had another shot bundled away.

Before you know it there's a lot of players involved over something that was really nothing at all

Everton boss David Moyes

Another piece of quick-fire passing ended with Malbranque lashing another long-range effort just wide.

Everton's first effort on goal came when Lee Carsley chased a lost cause into the box and challenged van der Sar right on the byline.

Steed Malbranque of Fulham holds off Thomas Gravesen of Everton
Everton won the midfield battle

The Dutch goalkeeper let the ball slip from his grasp - and Carsley, who was flat on his back, hooked the ball into the side netting.

After Pierre Wome had been booked for flattening Carsley, Campbell sent a back header from Mark Pembridge's free-kick just inside the far post.

And less than a minute later, Everton scored again when Gravesen raced through to unleash a fine shot past Van der Sar.

After the restart, Gravesen continued to drive Everton forward only for the home side to be denied time and again by Van Der Sar.

Unsworth produced a 30-yarder that the Dutchman managed to tip over the bar.

In the end they had more chances and deserved to win

Fulham assistant manager Christian Damiano

Then he made a miracle point-blank save from Campbell's diving header.

Soon after, Gravesen's cross was deflected to Tomasz Radzinski, whose instant shot cannoned off the post.

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Unsworth, Carsley, Tie Li, Gravesen, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski.
Subs Not Used: Stubbs, Ferguson, Naysmith, Rooney, Gerrard.

Booked: Unsworth.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Knight, Goma (Melville 27), Wome, Malbranque, Inamoto (Boa Morte 55), Legwinski, Davis, Hayles (Sava 60), Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Clark, Taylor.

Booked: Wome, Hayles, Melville.

Attendance: 34,371

Referee: S Dunn (Avon).