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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas

Aleksandar Mitrovic's desperate plea to referee as Ashley Cole change clear for Everton

Everton earned a useful, if uninspiring point, at Fulham in a game that hinged on the decision not to send Aleksandar Mitrovic off for his tackle on Idrissa Gueye.

Among those in the stands was Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who paid a visit to club staff before kick-off. He saw a game that started brightly with chances at both ends, including the Demarai Gray shot in the opening 10 minutes that finally ended Everton's run - stretching beyond 180 minutes - without a shot on target away from home.

Now the dust has settled, here are a few moments that may have been missed among the major talking points of the trip to Craven Cottage.

VERDICT FROM CRAVEN COTTAGE: Everton have new reason for VAR anger after latest puzzling decision at Fulham

READ MORE: Everton player ratings as Jordan Pickford excellent and five more good in Fulham draw

Aleksandar Mitrovic's plea for MORE help from the officials

The decision not to send Mitrovic off for his horror tackle on Idrissa Gueye could be classed a moment missed considering how baffling the decision was. Frank Lampard certainly believed it was a sending off and it is hard to argue, with the VAR declining to intervene on the grounds the tackle apparently lacked intensity. Mitrovic survived and was a constant danger who clocked up 10 shots during the match. One might think that, having been lucky to stay on the pitch, he would have been happy with his lot from referee John Brooks. Not at all. Around the hour mark he was dispossessed - fairly - by Vitalii Mykolenko on the edge of the Everton box. Mitrovic, left in a heap, responded with outstretched arms to the match official as he called for another decision to go in his favour. He lost that battle, audacious as it was that he should try claim to be hard done by given what had happened half an hour earlier.

Vitalii Mykolenko sends opponent for the ECHO

This was a 90 minutes that showcased Mykolenko's defensive attributes, the Ukraine international producing a battling display and repeatedly putting his body on the line with a series of courageous blocks. It came after the 23-year-old was so impressive going forward against Crystal Palace - when he responded to Lampard's calls to be more positive by repeatedly overlapping Gray and eventually letting fly with the shot that allowed Anthony Gordon to score Everton's second. While such attacking intent was rare on the banks of the Thames, there was one notable glimpse of it. In the second half he produced a glorious spin that outfoxed Bobby Decordova-Reid and set Mykolenko free down the Everton left. Decordova-Reid was caught out by the trick to the extent that he had no choice other than to pull Mykolenko back, resulting in a yellow card for the Fulham player.

Corner kick caution

Everton have become significantly better at defending set pieces this season. With training led by Ashley Cole there has been a clear improvement and Fulham were another side who had little joy pumping balls into Jordan Pickford's box. One theme that was evident again on Saturday was Everton's tendency to have all of their players back to defend a corner. While the size and strength of Dominic Calvert-Lewin make him a clear defensive attribute for set pieces, everyone - including Gray - is given a defensive role. What is particularly interesting is this seems to be a trend in the Premier League - Fulham did the same when defending Everton corners - as did Newcastle United.

A surprise steward for Mitrovic

Sticking with corners, another interesting theme of the trip to Fulham was the designation of defensive duties directed towards Mitrovic. At corners it was neither of the strong centre backs James Tarkowski or Conor Coady who took him on, nor the tallest players like Amadou Onana and Calvert-Lewin. Instead it fell to Alex Iwobi to mark him. Mitrovic won an early battle and forced Pickford into a stunning, flying save as he headed an early corner goalwards. But beyond that he barely tested Pickford - some feat given Everton faced 13 corners.

Fans make their appreciation for Seamus Coleman clear

Seamus Coleman has once again shown his value to Everton through his work to cover Nathan Patterson during the Scotland international's injury. Coleman, the club captain, has started six games and produced solid displays against Southampton and Crystal Palace - when he nullified the threat of danger man Wilfried Zaha. He was substituted off for the returning Patterson in the second half as Lampard broke with tradition and made the first move from the bench, also bringing on James Garner for Gueye. The away fans, in fine voice throughout, responded with the popular "60 grand, 60 grand Seamus Coleman" song as he left the pitch.

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