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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the interval.

Barry believed 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 attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. The team 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 over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.