Premier League: Fulham 1 Everton 3

Stoppage-time strikes from Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell fired Everton to a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

On-loan midfielder Royston Drenthe put Everton ahead after just three minutes, but Fulham equalised through an impressive Bryan Ruiz strike before Saha and Rodwell’s late heroics.

It was Everton who began the game in a more fluent fashion and they were rewarded with a goal in the third minute of the match.

Rodwell played a neat one-two with Greek striker Apostolos Vellios before laying off to Real Madrid loanee Drenthe, who smashed his left-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner.

The visitors could have had a second on 11 minutes when a Leighton Baines cross from the right was headed over by Rodwell.

Fulham started to come to life soon after, but their chances were limited to long-range strikes from Steve Sidwell and former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise.

Everton goal-keeper Tim Howard made a brilliant save to prevent Clint Dempsey pulling Fulham level 25 minutes in and he had to be good again shortly afterwards to keep out Brede Hangeland’s header.

Fulham dominated possession after half-time with skipper Danny Murphy and former Everton striker Andy Johnson whipping in a number of crosses.

Saha replaced Vellios early in the second half, but it was Martin Jol’s first substitution that immediately altered the shape of the game when Ruiz came on for Murphy to score his first goal for the club since he joined from FC Twente.

The 10.6-million-pound signing lobbed exquisitely from the left-hand side of the box over Howard to draw the home side level with just over 30 minutes remaining.

Everton were forced to defend frantically in the last few minutes before stoppage time, Phil Jagielka and Baines making desperate challenges to deny the hosts.

Substitute Saha gave David Moyes the much-needed victory against the run of play, dinking his shot into the bottom corner when one-on-one with Fulham shot-stopper Mark Schwarzer.

Rodwell scored Everton’s third in stoppage time to give Moyes’ side their second win at Craven Cottage in eleven attempts.