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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.