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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net must not rest only on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham 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 the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve 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 testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed 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 carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian 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 late on.