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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But the team's next effort past the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.