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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

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 testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton 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 hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the player at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. 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 late on.