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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were contained throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break 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 the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. 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 work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's third attempt beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.