🔗 Share this article

The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.