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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus 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 declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed 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 again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy 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 video assistant referee backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender directed over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.