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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was fairly straightforward as Fulham demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper 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 earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.