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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the interval.

Barry believed his luck 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 erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker 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 Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.