🔗 Share this article

The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors showed the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance 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 goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued 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 Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player 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 put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.