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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with a crucial save late on.