One nil to the mighty Toffees is not a chant many of the Goodison Park faithful thought they would be singing at the start of the season.
But it is result that has now favoured them on no less than six occasions during their record-breaking start to the campaign.
Fulham were poor in a game that lacked any real finesse and in a dire first half their persistent fouling denied Everton the chance to build up their usual head of steam.
Tomasz Radzinski's cutting comments about the Blues, after his summer transfer to Fulham, meant his every touch was greeted with a crescendo of boos from the home crowd.
Both teams struggled to maintain possession on a bitterly cold afternoon and it was not until the 19th minute that either side managed to carve out a telling chance.
David Weir's incisive pass went through Marcus Bent and Thomas Gravesen before Leon Osman's right-wing cross was headed narrowly over by Tim Cahill.
But the game soon dropped back into another frustrating lull and while Everton's urgency could be commended, their ability to make any kind of telling break though in the final third could not.
Radzinski almost got his own back on the boo boys on 40 minutes when his flicked header was brilliantly saved by an off balance Nigel Martyn.
And with just thirty seconds of the first period remaining Mark Crossley's finger tips denied a vicious Osman volley from seven yards.
Fifteen minutes into the second half Bent buoyed the Toffeemen into action.
Bursting down the right wing with explosive pace his deep right-footed cross was met by a rampaging Cahill. But the Australian's guided header was just about held on to by Crossley in the Fulham goal.
Within 30 seconds Bent had raised the heart-rates of the Everton fans again with a beautiful curling effort from 25 yards that seemed destined for the top corner.
It took all of Crossley's diminishing athleticism to tip it over the bar at full stretch.
The reprieve was only temporary. After mounting pressure Gravesen's 65th minute corner was flicked goalwards by Kevin Kilbane.
An under-fire Crossley could only parry the effort into the path of substitute Duncan Ferguson who bravely headed in a well deserved opener.
With quarter of an hour remaining a comedy of defensive errors almost undid all of Everton's good work.
Alan Stubbs misjudged a long clearance from Crossley and a previously anonymous Andy Cole raced through on goal.
His misplaced lob floated harmlessly up in the air and should have been easily dealt with by the covering Weir.
But action made way to hesitancy and Cole latched on to the second loose ball as a mass scramble ensued on the goalline. Martyn eventually cleared the danger but it was a wake up call for the previously at ease Everton defence.
In stoppage time the home fans had their hearts in their mouths as Radzinski stabbed a right-footed effort inches wide from seven yards.
As pleasing at it would have been for the diminutive striker, on a day when the barrage of boos followed him to the final whistle, an equaliser would have been harsh on Everton.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) Came off the bench to bravely settle the game and was a constant threat.