Brian McBride's second-half header gave Fulham's survival hopes a shot in the arm as Everton slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.The American striker, recently restored to the starting line-up after recovering from a serious knee injury, coolly headed home his second league goal of the season as the Cottagers moved within three points of 17th-placed Birmingham.

But the defeat marked a miserable sixth anniversary in charge of the Toffees for David Moyes, whose side suffered their first Premier League defeat of 2008 and left them trailing Merseyside rivals Liverpool by three points in fifth place.

After a cagey opening in which Everton lost Andrew Johnson to a groin injury, the Cottagers created the first opportunity when Simon Davies' clever throughball was taken first time on the volley by McBride, but his effort flew wide of the target.

But the Toffees were soon on the attack with Aiyegbeni Yakubu's powerful running forcing a way through the Fulham defence and the Nigerian's shot was comfortably saved by Kasey Keller, while Steven Pienaar's effort bounced harmlessly wide.

Chances were few and far between but Everton came closest to breaking the deadlock four minutes before the interval when Yakubu's weaving run into the area saw him try his luck on goal, but Keller palmed his left-footed effort away with a fine save low to his left.

But the Cottagers came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half, with Eddie Johnson's trickery down the right forcing a corner after Lee Carsley had deflected the American's cross into the sidenetting. And from the resulting flag kick, Johnson's towering header flew high and wide of goal.

But play soon switched down the other end when a slick Everton move resulted in Yakubu sliding Phil Neville in at the far post, but good covering work from Paul Konchesky prevented the shot hitting the target.

But the Cottagers made the breakthrough on 67 minutes when a quick break down the left saw Davies whip over a cross, which McBride steered expertly into the corner of Tim Howard's goal from 10 yards.

Everton should have been level four minutes later when Mikel Arteta's corner picked out the unmarked Joseph Yobo but his header from eight yards was just high and wide of the target.

As the game opened up and switched from end to end, Johnson then flashed a volley over Howard's crossbar, while Yakubu's low effort was comfortably saved by Keller.

The Cottagers could have wrapped up the win late on when substitute Clint Dempsey found himself clean through but he failed to get proper contact on the ball with the goal at his mercy. And with two minutes remaining, Johnson flashed another opportunity just over the crossbar.

However, Roy Hodgson's side held on to claim three vital points as their survival fight gained new momentum.

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