HT: Fulham 0-0 Everton: Stalemate at Craven Cottage

Everton had the better of a quiet first half in today's clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Toffees, who started the weekend second from bottom in the Barclays Premier League, failed to seriously test Mark Schwarzer but they controlled the opening 45 minutes.

Fulham's best chance was a header from Dickson Etuhu that was easily saved by Tim Howard.

Fulham started with Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera in attack for today's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

Damien Duff returned after missing the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Stoke with a calf injury while Diomansy Kamara featured in the squad for the first time in almost a year.

Tim Howard returned in goal for Everton while Mikel Arteta replaced Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in midfield. South African Steven Pienaar was also recalled to the starting XI.

Everton made the brighter start but it took a well-timed tackle from their defender Phil Jagielka to deny Dempsey a great chance.

Carlos Salcido sped into the box and squared to Dempsey, who was about to shoot from the edge of the area only for Jagielka to intervene

Tim Cahill, back having missed the last two games with a knee injury, became tangled with Brede Hangeland as Everton threatened and then Pienaar saw an attempt saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Seamus Coleman was proving influential for the Toffees down the right side as Fulham continued to find themselves on the back foot.

Schwarzer had to react smartly to gather a dangerous cross from Phil Neville with Leighton Baines lurking in the six-yard box.

A dynamic run from Baines kept Everton on the front foot and Fulham's problems grew when Stephen Kelly limped off to be replaced by Chris Baird.

Gera opened up his box of tricks to skip past Baines before producing a tame shot that failed to trouble Howard.

Better was to come from Fulham when Simon Davies found Salcido who expertly teed up Dickson Etuhu, only for the Nigerian's header to find the arms of Howard.

Arteta tried his luck from long range but the Spaniard's shot drifted narrowly wide of the right post.