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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not rest only on the team's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park 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 missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane directed past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.