Vitaliy Mykolenko frustrates in Everton v Fulham. Credit: Imago
Vitaliy Mykolenko frustrates in Everton v Fulham. Credit: Imago
Match

Vitaliy Mykolenko frustrates as 'dreadful' moment emerges in Everton draw v Fulham

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Andy Hinchcliffe was unimpressed by Vitaliy Mykolenko after the Everton defender nearly handed Fulham a chance to score on Saturday (26 October).

Both sides had chances to open the scoring at Goodison Park, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin being ruled out by VAR once again, but Emile Smith Rowe spurned a simple chance.

The ball fell to the former Arsenal man just outside the six-yard box, with Mykolenko's "dreadful" clearance almost instantly coming back to haunt the Toffees, but he could not convert.

Speaking live via Sky Sports on Saturday (26 October, 5:58pm), Hinchcliffe said: "It's a dreadful clearance from Mykolenko. The angle is against Traore, and Pickford does well in getting his angles right.

"It's a good stop. They don't clear their lines effectively, giving the ball straight back. It's a dangerous cross. Raul Jimenez does brilliantly to pick out Smith-Rowe. Keep it down and it's 1-0 to Fulham."

Vitaliy Mykolenko avoids embarrassment in Everton v Fulham

Mykolenko is one of the most dependable players at Sean Dyche's disposal, often being one of the first names on the teamsheet when fit and available.

The 25-year-old was nearly left with egg on his face against the Cottagers but was eventually bailed out by a poor miss from Smith Rowe.

While the Toffees have shown a lot more promise than the opening handful of games of the new season, there are still individual mistakes which need to be cut out entirely.

Sean Dyche
Everton manager Sean Dyche [Credit: Imago]

Despite winning nine points from their last five games, Dyche's side are still very much in the relegation conversation, with just six points separating them from the dreaded dropzone.

Attention will now turn to their away trip to St Mary's Stadium, making the long trip down to the south coast to face strugglers Southampton. Three points will be expected.

In other Everton news, Jason Cundy made an "enormous" claim about the Toffees after what Aston Villa did recently.

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Everton
Fulham
Andy Hinchcliffe
Vitaliy Mykolenko
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