Idrissa Gueye and Keane find the net as Everton overcome Fulham

The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham showed why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton forward 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 missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge all game.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian 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 teed up inside the area by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.