Pickford frustrates Fulham.

Fulham and Everton played to a goalless draw at Craven Cottage for the second season in a row. While Frank Lampard’s shortcomings were exposed by the incident from last season, Sean Dyche would have been happy with a clean sheet and a point at the start of a pivotal week for the Toffees.

Even though Luton’s four-point victory over Brighton and Hove Albion was the most shocking outcome of the evening, Everton showed resilience, organization, and growing confidence throughout the match.

Although Fulham failed to convert a number of obvious opportunities, the management of the club may decide to add a new forward in the final hours of the transfer window as a result of the result. Marco Silva hardly needed to be reminded that his team needs more of a killer instinct in the final third.

After halftime, Raul Jimenez was replaced due to a hamstring issue; however, the Mexican wasted the best opportunity of the match, shooting wide when it appeared easier to score after Timothy Castagne’s effort had deflected into his path inside the six-yard box. In the second half, Rodrigo Muniz squandered two excellent opportunities before Castagne struck the crossbar with his header.

Jordan Pickford made a fantastic reflex save to deny Tosin Adarabioyo, but Dyche’s team had a chance to win it in stoppage time when Ben Godfrey and Beto were denied after an absurd goalmouth scramble.

Silva went back to the lineup that had challenged Liverpool all week; however, Kristian Sekularac, a substitute from the under-21 team, was elevated due to Harry Wilson’s shoulder injury against Newcastle. After Willian appeared to have been hauled out, Jimenez smashed over the bar in the opening minute.

However, Everton threatened on the break right away, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was only prevented from scoring by a spectacular block from Issa Diop, and Jack Harrison wasted a chance to strike wide.

After Antonee Robinson’s long-range effort was brilliantly saved by Pickford, Andreas Pereira came inches away from scoring from the top corner after being picked out by Tom Cairney from a short corner. Then Everton had a chance, as a Fulham area free kick produced mayhem.

Ashley Young’s shot was blocked by Bernd Leno, and James Tarkowski’s ill-advised effort ricocheted off Diop and bounced back off the crossbar before Castagne somehow cleared. The technology demonstrated that the entire bar was not over the line, despite the screaming of the visiting fans demanding a goal.

As the Whites kept up their running, Bobby De Cordova-Reid saw a shot from the left angle of the blocked area. However, Everton broke down on the other end of the field right after, and Arant Danjuma missed the mark.

The most egregious error of them all was Jimenez’s choice to go for power instead of placement, but Pereira’s daring, even from outside the area, dropped too late to avoid clearing the crossbar by inches.

Following the break, Fulham’s chances were few and far between, as Everton upped their game. When Willian appeared to be the clear favorite to convert De Cordova-Reid’s cross, Godfrey easily flicked the ball between his toes. Calvert-Lewin first headed against the crossbar and then looped another header onto the roof of the net.

Pickford performed another act of heroism to stop Adarabioyo, and Muniz huffed and puffed but offered little of note. One of Pereira’s shots was deflected wide, and Fulham was unable to produce a late winner.

Deep into stoppage time, Ream denied Beto, who had miraculously headed over the bar when it looked easier to score from a set play. The Portuguese had little time to react as Godfrey drove the follow-up straight into him, allowing Leno to emerge with the ball.

This created even more suspense. Although it was one of the season’s more entertaining goalless draws, the home team will not find much solace in that.