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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should 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 responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than 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 gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past Leno counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with another important stop late on.