Gueye along with Michael Keane find the net as the Toffees overcome Fulham

The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues 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 comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker 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 clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper counted. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.