🔗 Share this article

The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target 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 Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.