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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not rest only on the team's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, 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 Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired 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 moved beyond the last defender 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 left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.