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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort beating the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside 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 second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.