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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were kept quiet all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest gradually 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 inside the area by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save late on.