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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, 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 comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward 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 missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy 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 video assistant referee supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save late on.