Jeffers rescues Everton at the death

Everton 1 Fulham 1

The on-loan Arsenal striker was only on the pitch for the final six minutes as manager David Moyes’ last throw of the dice against Fulham, who led through a 49th-minute goal from Sean Davis, the midfielder Everton tried so hard to buy last summer.

That looked like sending Fulham into round five until Jeffers forced home the equaliser to secure a replay.

Moyes continued with his three-striker policy with Duncan Ferguson, Tomasz Radzinski and Wayne Rooney launched at Fulham from the start.

Fulham had former Everton striker Brian McBride unavailable and Ian Pearce cup-tied but offered a battling display.

David Moyes breathed a sign of relief afterwards: “I was pleased for Franny, that goal will make him feel a lot better and do his confidence the world of good.

“I must admit that I did not think that the goal was going to come. I have been saying for a few weeks that our strikers must start scoring more, and it was the same this time.

“We have to be more clinical, we made half a dozen chances and missed them all. Frankly we are not the sort of sides that creates tap-ins, we have to take the half chances when they come our way.

“But one thing my team never does is to give up. I have said a few things to them recently, but I have never doubted their attitude, which has been magnificent.

“They have given their lot for the cause. Now we have got a replay, which will be very tough down there, but at least we are still in with a chance,” he said.

One black spot was another needless booking for Wayne Rooney, who was cautioned for kicking the ball away in frustration. Moyes added: “As for Rooney’s booking, it was a bit silly, just frustration, but then we were all feeling the same about the way things were going. But you know that if you kick the ball away, you will get booked.”

The game was watched by Dynamo Moscow striker Dmitry Bulykin, who is at Goodison on trial.

But Moyes confirmed he will not be able to do a deal for the Russian international before the end of the transfer window.

Moyes said: “He is here until the middle of next week for us to have a look at him. He does not have enough caps just yet to qualify for a work permit.

“But by the time the summer comes round, and the Euro 2004 finals, he will certainly have played enough. He needs to have played 70% of games over a two-year spell, and he is just short of that at the moment.

“I watched him play for Russia in Ireland and against Wales in Cardiff, but the deal is not one for this season,” he said.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman was frustrated at not hanging on for the win that would have taken his side into the last 16.

Coleman said: “I would have taken a draw before the game, this is a tough place to come and Everton are one of the very best at set pieces. We spent a long time working on them in midweek and I felt my defence were outstanding.”

And he was quick to underline his claim that Fulham were not a one-man team after Louis Saha’s move to Manchester United.

Coleman added: “Saha has gone, we have drawn a line under that now, but I have more than enough to get me by.

“But I am pretty hopeful of doing something in the transfer market before the window closes. I am looking to bring in another striker.”

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Unsworth (Naysmith 58), Pistone (Jeffers 85), Gravesen, Nyarko, Kilbane, Rooney, Radzinski, Ferguson.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Djetou, Goma, Knight, Bocanegra, Volz, Sean Davis, Clark, Malbranque, Boa Morte, Hayles (Sava 81).

Referee: D Gallagher