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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the edge all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the home player. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.