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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham 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 insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. 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 missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a further effort disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.