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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham showed why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were contained throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye 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 more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.