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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was fairly straightforward as the visitors highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured 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 a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the player at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.