Gera lifts West Brom gloom

A solitary goal from Zoltan Gera was enough to give West Bromwich Albion FC victory against Everton FC, boosting their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premiership and damaging their opponents' UEFA Champions League qualification aspirations.

Barren spell
Everton have now won just once in seven league games, but remain a point ahead of Liverpool FC in the final Champions League qualifying berth. Hungarian midfield player Gera’s header on 62 minutes proved the difference, while they could have doubled their lead shortly after but Martin Albrechtsen hit the post after great work from Kieran Richardson.

Late misses
Marcus Bent had two chances to equalise for the visitors inside 60 seconds ten minutes from time but missed both, as Bryan Robson’s men moved above Crystal Palace FC into 18th place, level on 27 points with Southampton FC.

Vital win
In the day's other Premiership game, Fulham FC leapfrogged Portsmouth FC into 14th position after a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage eased their own relegation fears but left Velimir Zajec’s side just four points above the drop zone. Lomano LuaLua gave the visitors the lead on 32 minutes, before Fulham's Steed Malbranque had a penalty saved by Jamie Ashdown just before the break after Dejan Stefanovic's handball.

Defensive errors
Andrew Cole restored parity on the hour, before substitute Brian McBride latched on to a poor headed backpass by Arjen de Zeeuw to give Fulham the lead with nine minutes left. Luis Boa Morte sealed victory in added time after dispossessing Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus to slot in the third and leave the visitors in freefall, with just one win in their last 12 games.