🔗 Share this article

The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. 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 reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.