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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not rest only on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the latter period, the away side were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton forward 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 Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved 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 delivery in the build-up. But the team's third attempt beating Leno did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.