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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than 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 spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper counted. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.