A soporific stalemate is rarely so comforting. After a week that incorporated a 7-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge and lurid revelations about in-fighting in their dressing room, an uneventful afternoon suited Stoke City fine. The volume of their raucous supporters means it would be inaccurate to call it quiet, but there was a marked lack of drama.

There was, however, a demonstration of quiet competence from Ryan Shawcross. Returning to the starting line-up for the first time since the end of February, when his challenge left Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey with a badly broken leg, as Stoke’s stand-in skipper he negotiated the match with few alarms.

It was an occasion when Tony Pulis turned to the players he trusted most. Minus the forwards he had branded “precious” and “petulant” in Tuncay and Dave Kitson, the Stoke manager reverted to his preferred forward line in the Championship. Mamady Sidibe is an infrequent goalscorer but a regular provider for his partners. His flick-on was read by Ricardo Fuller, who controlled the ball deftly but failed in his attempt to lob Tim Howard.

The clearest chance fell Rory Delap’s way. When Matthew Etherington delivered an enticing cross, the unmarked Delap, famously capable of marrying precision and power with his long throws, provided neither with the ball at his feet. It wasn’t even close.

Victor Anichebe’s forceful running made him Everton’s most direct threat. One curling shot almost broke the deadlock. Shawcross was required to halt the makeshift left-winger on one occasion with a well-judged challenge; on two others, however, Anichebe inadvertently aided Stoke’s cause, blocking a crisp, goalbound effort from Leighton Baines with his back and then being penalised for a foul on Asmir Begovic when Phil Jagielka headed Mikel Arteta’s corner in. Their failure to win ensured Everton will end the campaign in eighth place.

Premier LeagueStoke CityEvertonRichard Jollyguardian.co.uk

The Europa League’s growing appeal will be keenly felt at Goodison Park. For Fulham, this match is sandwiched between the two legs of their semi-final tie against Hamburg, while for Everton there now exists the real possibility of qualifying for next season’s tournament – finishing seventh would be enough following Portsmouth’s failure to obtain a Uefa licence. The hosts should be galvanised by last week’s late victory over Blackburn while the visitors are hindered by the absence of top scorer Bobby Zamora. Sachin Nakrani

Venue Goodison Park, Sunday 3pm

Tickets £29-35 (0871 663 1878)

Last season Everton 1 Fulham 0

Referee P Dowd

This season’s matches 27 Y83, R5, 3.26 cards per game

Odds Everton 4-9 Fulham 8-1 Draw 15-4

Everton

Subs from Nash, Turner, Yobo, Osman, Senderos, Saha, Anichebe, Duffy, Aghard, Baxter, Wallace

Doubtful None

Injured Rodwell (hamstring, 1 May), Heitinga (ankle 9 May), Fellaini (ankle, Aug), Gosling (knee, Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDDWW

Disciplinary record Y58 R2

Leading scorer Saha 13

Fulham

Subs from Zuberbühler, Baird, Dikgacoi, Riise, Konchesky, Stoor, Nevland, Gera, Davies, Kelly, Hangeland, Elm

Doubtful Davies (rib), Dempsey (thigh), Paintsil (knee)

Injured Zamora (achilles, 29 Apr), A Johnson (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide DDWLLL

Disciplinary record Y42 R1

Leading scorer Zamora 8

Match pointers

• Of the 17 Premier League meetings between these sides 16 have ended in a win for the home side on the day

• Fulham have never won a league match at Everton in 22 attempts, although they have recorded two victories at Goodison Park in the FA Cup

• If selected, Tony Hibbert will be making his 200th Premier League appearance

• Fulham have not won in their last 16 top-flight away matches and have failed to score in the last seven

• After scoring four goals in his first 26 league appearances this season, Tim Cahill has now scored another four in his last five games

Premier LeagueEvertonFulhamguardian.co.uk

Mikel Arteta aimed further swipes at Morten Gamst Pedersen in the aftermath of Everton’s last-gasp victory at Ewood Park, but none quite as reprehensible as the poke in the eye that grubbied his otherwise fine display.

Accusations of ‘previous’ rang from Arteta’s lips, as did an apology for his moment of nastiness. There will be no further inquisition for the Spanish midfielder, given that the referee Andre Marriner assessed the unsavoury incident as worthy of a yellow card, unless the official says in his report that he merely witnessed physical confrontation rather than a raised arm. Only then, under Football Association disciplinary guidelines, can retrospective action be taken.

Arteta was not expected back from a groin tear for another fortnight but gave a matador’s interpretation of the midfield art among Blackburn’s bulls. However, his composure on the ball was not replicated when Pedersen caught him late in the 20th minute. “I probably shouldn’t have reacted like I did but there have been a few times – not just in this match – when he’s made bad tackles,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t mind it when they’re fair or tough, I accept it with no problem. But with him it’s different and he knows that – I told him after it as well.

“But I made a mistake, I shouldn’t have reacted and I apologise for it. I probably got more upset because I was out for so long and don’t want a stupid challenge like that injuring me again.”

Sam Allardyce was among the Rovers hordes who reckoned Arteta’s afternoon should have ended early for a different reason. “By the letter of the law it is a red card but, once again, the referee has got it wrong,” said the Blackburn manager. This was Arteta’s 10th league appearance of the season, making one wonder how much further up the table Everton would have been with double that number. His early penalty was his fifth goal and he was at the hub of Everton’s invention, after committing himself to the long-shot quest of Europa League qualification – by the final whistle they were one point shy of seventh-placed Aston Villa, having played two games more.

“It was a risk, but we had to take a risk because if we hadn’t won that was it for us in Europe,” said Arteta. “I told the gaffer that I’d play if he wanted me to.” Neither was David Moyes averse to gambling at one of Everton’s happy hunting grounds – they are now unbeaten in six league games at Blackburn’s stronghold – throwing on Yakubu as a second striker to devastating effect a dozen minutes from the end.

A flick from the Nigerian international’s forehead, his first touch, put Everton 2-1 ahead and his cunning spin and cross set up Tim Cahill’s 90th-minute tap-in. It kicked Moyes’ men’s filthy habit of relinquishing points at the fag end of games, having allowed West Ham and Aston Villa to snatch late equalisers this month.

Although they resolutely defended the barrage of long-throw and dead-ball deliveries into their 18-yard box, that prospect reared itself once more when Blackburn, loth to allow their proud home record to be tarnished without a skirmish, twice levelled through exquisite long rangers from Steven Nzonzi and Jason Roberts. Ultimately, however, they could not avert only their second defeat on home turf since the opening day.

But there are signs of progress, with Allardyce claiming Nzonzi, £500,000 from Amiens, as the coup signing of 2009-10. “There is not a better find for the consistency he has shown over the season. He is noticeable by his size and aerial strength. He has managed to hang in there and andcoped with the pressure on him every week, to play more than people might have expected.”

Premier LeagueBlackburn RoversEvertonguardian.co.uk