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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham showed 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 subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, 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 reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings 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 youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy 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 failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.