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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were contained throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.