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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility 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 stated. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was fairly straightforward as Fulham highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort beating the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that the defender glanced over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.