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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the away side were contained all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light 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 excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced past the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.