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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in 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 attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye finished from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

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 scoring with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with a crucial save late on.