McBride snatches points

McBride dented Everton's Champions League qualification dreams and boosted Fulham's chances of beating the drop when he headed home from a cross by Simon Davies in the 67th minute.

It was struggling Fulham's first victory since beating Aston Villa at Craven Cottage at the beginning of February and Roy Hodgson's side deserved to take all three points with a performance of grit and determination that Everton could not match.

They began in sparkling fashion but their eagerness to get an early goal was all too evident when Jimmy Bullard scuffed a 20-yard shot that failed to trouble Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Everton's situation was not helped by an enforced substitution in the 13th minute.

England striker Andrew Johnson was replaced by Tony Hibbert after appearing to collect an ankle knock.

Everton hardly looked like a side chasing the fourth Champions League spot as their relegation-threatened hosts enjoyed most of the possession, but they came closest to breaking the deadlock three minutes before the interval.

A smart move down the right flank involving Stephen Pienaar and Phil Neville ended with Yakubu finding space inside the penalty area only to shoot at Kasey Keller.

But the breakthrough finally arrived in the 67th minute through McBride.

The goal owed much to the skill and endeavour of Davies on the left flank who sent over a perfect cross for the American striker to head into the roof of the net.