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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors showed the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were contained all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a corner that Keane directed past Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.