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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender duly obliged, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, 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 player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton forward 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 clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.