🔗 Share this article

David Moyes had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “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, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the player at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.