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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed 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 earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer finished from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.