Everton had stirred under Sean Dyche, raising their hopes of a second successive escape from relegation but Goodison Park was shaken by the grim realisation that the Championship may be beckoning after all. Fulham cruised back to winning ways as Marco Silva’s side left his former club hovering precariously above the drop zone with three home matches to play.
The sight of Everton fans streaming for the exits after Dan James scored Fulham’s third was apt for a team that was resigned to its fate. Ensuring that resignation lasts for only one abysmal performance is the ominous challenge that now confronts Dyche. “A step backwards,” said the Everton manager. “The mentality has shifted since we came in but today it reverted back. We were lackadaisical after going behind to their second goal and that can’t happen.”
