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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the player at the interval.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past Leno did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.