By David Awopetu
Nigerian International, Josh Maja’s first Premier League goals gave Fulham a huge boost in their relegation fight with a 2-0 win over a lethargic Everton.
Maja, signed during the winter window, scored both goals in the second half and inflicted maximum damage to an Everton team that was hoping to make a statement in terms of getting involved in the race for the top four.
Fulham controlled Sunday night’s game from start to finish at Goodison Park but were facing a familiar headache when their dominance had not been rewarded before half-time, with Bobby Reid’s header against the post the closest they had come.
But Super Eagle’s striker Maja struck a well-worked opener three minutes into the second period for the perfect Fulham welcome on his first start for the club, before doubling the lead just after the hour after Harrison Reed struck the woodwork.
It all began with Tosin Adarabioyo moving a ball forward to Reed; he nudged it forward to De Cordova-Reid, out it went to another Nigerian Ola Aina, who exchanged passes with Ademola Lookman and scooted around Coleman to whip his cross into the six-yard box. Maja, gleefully, did the easy bit and tapped into an empty net.
Everton, by contrast, began to shrink. This fixture was supposed to provide the impetus ahead of two huge fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool but play against them as they did here and they will be in for a miserable time.
It was the kind of lifeless performance that would have had a full Goodison growling its displeasure and it went from bad to worse in the 65th minute when Maja doubled his tally, tapping in a rebound from six yards after Olsen touched Reed’s shot onto the post.
There is still plenty of work to do for Fulham to escape the drop, with this victory cutting the deficit to safety to seven points, but it will significantly boost their hopes so they can fight their way out of trouble.
Defeat for Everton, meanwhile, means they remain seventh on 37 points.
