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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts disallowed for offside, 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 reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez 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 defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.