March 18, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

LONDON, March 17: Everton lost ground in the race for a Champions League place on Sunday when they went down 1-0 to struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage, a ground where the Merseysiders have not mustered a point in 42 years.

In the day’s other games Manchester City came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 while Wigan Athletic beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 despite playing with 10 men for 85 minutes.

Fulham, second-last in the standings but now only three points from safety, won a scrappy game in the 67th minute when Simon Davies crossed for fellow former Evertonian Brian McBride to score with a firm header.

“The goal was vital. For us the difference between one and three points in the match was everything,” added the manager after only his second win since taking over last December.

Everton, unbeaten in the league all year but knocked out of the UEFA Cup on penalties by Fiorentina in midweek, looked flat all afternoon in blustery conditions and rarely tested home goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

The defeat leaves them in fifth place on 56 points, three behind Liverpool, who beat Reading 2-1 on Saturday.

Manchester United lead the way on 67 points after their 1-0 win at Derby County, with Arsenal also on 67 but from a game more after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Middlesbrough.

Results:

Played on Sunday:

Fulham 1 Everton 0

Manchester City 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Wigan Athletic 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Played on Saturday:

Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1

Derby County 0 Manchester United 1

Liverpool 2 Reading 1

Portsmouth 2 Aston Villa 0

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1

West Ham United 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

—Reuters