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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 rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one 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 big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead 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 controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, 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 sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger 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 the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.