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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. 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, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.