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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender duly obliged, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings 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 earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, 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 second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.