Everton finally snapped their three-game Premier League drought as Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane struck to secure a vital 2-0 win over Fulham at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
After a frustrating opening half in which Thierno Barry and James Tarkowski both had goals disallowed for offside, the breakthrough came in stoppage time.
Gueye pounced on a loose ball to fire home and give David Moyes’ side the lead their dominance deserved.
The Toffees thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner, only for the flag to rise again after Barry was judged offside in the build-up.
Fulham, largely subdued before the break, grew into the game as Rodrigo Muniz forced Jordan Pickford into a sharp save, while Iliman Ndiaye produced a heroic clearance to deny Kevin a near-certain equaliser.
But Everton sealed the points late on when Keane glanced home a Dewsbury-Hall corner with just nine minutes to play, easing home fans’ nerves and securing their first league win in over a month.
The result lifts Everton within touching distance of the top half - just one point behind Crystal Palace in ninth - while Marco Silva’s Fulham remain hovering precariously above the relegation zone.
Manager David Moyes looked increasingly frustrated as chance after chance went begging before halftime, but persistence eventually paid off.
Everton dominated possession and territory, yet struggled to make it count until Gueye’s crucial opener.
New signing Thierno Barry, still searching for his first Premier League goal, endured a mixed afternoon - twice denied by offside calls and once missing a free header from close range.
Tarkowski was also unlucky, striking the bar before Gueye’s goal calmed nerves.
In the second half, the Toffees had to rely on Pickford and Ndiaye for crucial defensive interventions as Fulham pushed forward, before Keane’s late header secured all three points.
It was a deserved win and a reminder of the resilience Everton are rebuilding under Moyes.
Fulham’s away-day troubles deepened with another disappointing performance on the road.
Despite a strong home record, Marco Silva’s men have now lost five consecutive away league games, matching an unwanted streak from last season.
The visitors offered little threat before halftime, forcing only routine saves from Pickford.
Substitute Rodrigo Munizinjected some life into the attack after replacing Raul Jimenez, but his efforts failed to break Everton’s backline before being withdrawn himself.
Their best moment came when Ndiaye’s clearance prevented a certain equaliser for Kevin, but after Keane’s late goal, any hopes of a comeback faded.
Fulham’s continued struggles away from Craven Cottage will be a growing concern for Silva, whose side now sit just one point above the drop zone heading into a crucial stretch of fixtures.
