🔗 Share this article

David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, securing a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was fairly straightforward as the visitors highlighted why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at 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 the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that Keane glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.