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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, 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 missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

Barry thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal ruled out 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 Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his first touch and stopped the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.