Gueye and Michael Keane on target as the Toffees sink Fulham

David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park 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 spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno parried a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save late on.