Fulham dent Everton's Champions League hopes

Fulham preserved their Premiership status for another season as first half goals from Collins John and Brian McBride, shown here in February 2004, gave them a 2-0 victory over Champions League hopefuls Everton at Craven Cottage.

Fulham preserved their Premiership status for another season as first half goals from Collins John and Brian McBride gave them a 2-0 victory over Champions League hopefuls Everton at Craven Cottage.

Young Dutch striker John stabbed the home side ahead on 15 minutes and United States international McBride headed home a stunning second shortly before the interval and Fulham held on despite having Papa Bouba Diop sent off late on.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Everton who could have all but secured fourth place in the Premiership to bring Champions League football to Goodison Park next season had they won.

Chris Coleman's Fulham were beginning to look nervously over their shoulders at the Premiership's relegation zone and knew a defeat here could leave them within striking distance of the clubs in the bottom four.

And they almost fell behind within the first two minutes as Mikel Arteta swung in a free-kick which was headed goalwards by David Weir and turned in by Kevin Kilbane - only for the goal to be ruled offside.

Fourth-placed Everton started the afternoon with a four point cushion over nearest rivals Liverpool but their bright start was spoiled when key man Tim Cahill limped off after a heavy tackle by Diop.

If that was bad news for David Moyes's men, things got worse on the quarter hour mark when a mis-hit shot by former Blues forward Tomasz Radzinski fell into the path of John who rifled past Nigel Martyn from 12 yards.

While Everton were enjoying most of the posession it was the home side creating the better chances and John flashed his shot narrowly wide from 20 yards after neat build up play form McBride and Luis Boa Morte.

The visitors also had their chances with Marcus Bent sending a dangerous centre across goal and Duncan Ferguson's trademark header bringing a smart save out of Edwin van der Sar.

But late in the first half Fulham doubled their lead in fine style as Boa Morte's cross from the left hand side was met by McBride who sent a towering header over Martyn.

Everton almost hit straight back as Ferguson's clever knock down put Bent in on goal but van der Sar again got down smartly to save well with his feet.

The Merseysiders knew they needed an early reply in the second half to have any chance of salvaging something from the game and Lee Carsley slotted a golden chance narrowly wide after Ferguson again played him in.

Moyes threw on big money signing James Beattie just after the hour mark in a desperate bid to salvage something from the game but Fulham were well-organised and were restricted them to long-range efforts.

When the former Southampton man did get a glimpse of goal after being put through by Ferguson, the alert van der Sar was out quickly to sweep the ball away from his feet.

They were given new hope on 75 minutes when Diop - who had been booked for a foul on Leon Osman minutes earlier - was given a second yellow for pulling back substitute James McFadden but couldn't capitalise on their man advantage.