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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by the home team's greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Everton 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 missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far 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. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past the keeper counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane directed over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.