David Moyes enjoyed an impressive start to his reign as Everton manager with a 2-1 home win over Fulham this afternoon. The former Preston boss, who took over from the sacked Walter Smith on Thursday, allowed first-team coach Andy Holden to pick the side and watched in delight as the recalled Duncan Ferguson combined with Thomas Radzinski to set up David Unsworth for the first goal after just 31 seconds. On 13 minutes it was 2-0 when Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar fluffed a clearance to gift Ferguson a goal.
However, Everton did find themselves down to 10 men after a mere half-hour when Thomas Gravesen was shown his second yellow card for a for a late tackle on Luis Boa Morte and Fulham pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute when Steed Malbranque steered the ball home from six yards out.
In the day's six-pointer at the Reebok, it was Derby County who emerged the winners against Bolton Wanderers. The Rams opened the scoring on 22 minutes through Malcolm Christie but Bolton levelled matters just 30 seconds after the re-start when Ricardo Gardner fired home from the edge of the area. However, Fabrizio Ravanelli headed Derby ahead in the 52nd minute and Darren Higginbotham made it 3-1 with a penalty kick after Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off for a deliberate handball.
Leicester City threw away a two-goal lead against Southampton at St Mary's. A double strike from Brian Deane - in the 21st and 25th minutes - put the Foxes in line for an unlikely victory but Southampton hit back firstly with a brilliant diving header from Marian Pahars on 29 minutes and then with a penalty three minutes from time, successfully converted by the Latvian.
Chelsea boosted their hopes for making a Champions League spot with a 4-0 win over Sunderland. William Gallas, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Mikael Forssell and Sam dalla Bonna were all on target for the Blues.
At St James' Park, Newcastle captain Alan Shearer missed a last-minute penalty as Ipswich earned a valuable away point in a 2-2 draw with the Magpies. Marcus Bent fired Ipswich ahead five minutes into the second half but Laurent Robert equalised with a stunning 25-yard free-kick on the hour mark. Three minutes later, Bent scored his second of the game with a low shot past Shay Given but Shearer levelled matters once again two minutes from time before failing to earn the Magpies all three points as he fired a spot-kick wide of the post deep into injury time.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
