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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured 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 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 directed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to deny Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.