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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals must not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were contained throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Goodison Park forward 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 gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.