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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were contained throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests 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 finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.