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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort beating the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The relief 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 the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.