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Player Valuation: £225k
It’s still not quite panic stations but Everton do need to start picking up some wins soon. Phil Neville had it right when it talked about the need to forget about where the team may or may not end up at the end of the season, discard thoughts of Champions League or Europa League places and just focus on how the can win their next game. It’s a well worn cliché but they really can’t look any further than the next game. As the saying goes:
“He that strives to touch the stars, oft stumbles at a straw.”
The next bit of straw is a visit to Craven Cottage where Mark Hughes has made a very solid start to his tenure at the club. Unbeaten in five league games so far, including a home draw against Man United, David Moyes will know his side have a tough task to return back to Merseyside with three points from this game. The disappointment of the home defeat to Newcastle and exiting the Carling Cup at the hands of Brentford will have had its effect and the manager will be urging his players to forget about what has happened so far. One good win can get them on track but they’ll need to make the most of the chances they create against Fulham if they are to secure that win this weekend.
On a positive note, Everton have won three of the last four league games between these sides. The loss to Brentford in particular will hopefully serve as a reality check to the players and if they dig in and outwork Fulham then there’s no reason why they can’t make if four from five.
Yakubu will benefit from the 98 minutes he played midweek and with Pienaar and Arteta back in the starting line-up, he may be provided with some clearer opportunities to score his first goal of the season. When he’s on form the Nigerian striker is a difficult proposition for any defence and at 13/2 to score first, 23/10 to score in 90 minutes and 4/1 to score first for Everton, he’s a decent price if he has the bit between his teeth for this game.
Unusually Fulham conceded two goals from headers in their Carling Cup loss to Stoke and with the quality of delivery from Steven Pienaar it could be worth having a look at some of Everton’s bigger players to get on the scoresheet. Fellaini came close with a header against Brentford and he’s 10/1 to score first and 7/2 in 90 minutes. Phil Jagielka can also be a real threat from set-pieces and at 33/1 to score first and 13/1 in 90 minutes, he could prove a lucky punt.
A goal-fest is unlikely so in the correct score market Everton 1-0 at 13/2, 2-1 at 9/1 and the draws 0-0 at 7/1 and 1-1 at 5/1 look the sensible bets. Everton are 17/10 to win the game and if they put the effort in and take their chances, then they could clear this piece of straw and pick up their first win of the season.
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