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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.