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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender'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 Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.