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David Moyes had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past Leno did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with another important stop late on.