Everton 2 - 1 Fulham: Marouane Fellaini header seals victory

HEADERS from Denis Stracqualursi and Marouane Fellaini sent Everton into the fifth round of the FA Cup as they came from behind to beat Fulham last night.

Danny Murphy gave Fulham a controversial early lead from the penalty spot but Everton hit back against their Barclays Premier League rivals. Landon Donovan was twice the provider as Stracqualursi equalised before half-time and Fellaini settled the contest with 17 minutes from time.

Striker Andrew Johnson returned to the Fulham side at the expense of Bobby Zamora, with Fulham also bringing defenders Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird into the side.

Everton kept faith with 20-year-old Shane Duffy in defence while forwards Denis Stracqualursi and Magaye Gueye were preferred to Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe.

The home side enjoyed the bulk of early possession but Fulham grabbed the lead from the penalty spot after John Heitinga was penalised for handball in the 13th minute.

John Arne Riise had got behind the defence as he met a superb cross-field pass from Danny Murphy and cut the ball back for Damien Duff in front of goal. Duff shot instantly and the sliding Heitinga was unfortunate as the ball struck his arm in attempting to block.

Murphy calmly stroked home the penalty but Everton, feeling wronged by referee Howard Webb’s decision, responded well to the setback. Duffy had a chance to score an immediate equaliser as he went forward for a corner but headed wide from Gueye’s cross.

Cahill then forced David Stockdale to save with a back-post header from a Landon Donovan corner.

The next corner caused more problems as Stockdale lost the ball and Duffy turned to curl a shot back at goal but Hughes headed behind close to the line.

Everton were rewarded when Stracqualursi headed them level with his first goal for the club after 27 minutes. The Argentinian, who has made limited impression since joining the club on a season-long loan from Tigre, justified his surprise inclusion as he met a Donovan cross with a firm header that looped beyond the reach of Stockdale.

Everton were almost caught out when Murphy tricked them by playing a free-kick across the field instead of lofting it into the box. Baird struck team-mate Bryan Ruiz as he tried his luck from long range and the Costa Rican hit a snap-shot straight Tim Howard.

Fulham had the first chance of the second half when Clint Dempsey headed over from a Ruiz cross.

However, it was Everton who made the decisive breakthrough 17 minutes from time as Donovan hit a deep cross to the far post and Fellaini guided a fine header back across Stockdale into the top corner.

Everton almost made the game safe with the next attack as Cahill thundered a header against the bar from a Phil Neville cross.

The ball then hit the bar again as Hughes attempted to head clear from the rebound but this time it went over.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Duffy, Heitinga, Baines, Donovan, Gibson, Fellaini, Gueye, Cahill, Stracqualursi. Subs: Hahnemann, Hibbert, Saha, Drenthe, Vellios, Anichebe, Baxter.

Fulham: Stockdale, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Duff, Murphy, Baird, Ruiz, Dempsey, Johnson. Subs: Etheridge, Sidwell, Senderos, Frei, Zamora, Davies, Trotta.