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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was fairly straightforward as Fulham highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward 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 missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that Keane glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.