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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors highlighted why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, 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 gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down 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, however, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. 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 occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer finished from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and stopped the speedster with another important stop late on.