Gueye and Michael Keane on target as the Toffees overcome Fulham

David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as Fulham showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.