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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking 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 front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort beating Leno did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender directed past Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.