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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.