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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham highlighted why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues 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 made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased 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. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.