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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, earning a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal 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 Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the edge all game.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by his teammate and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort beating the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions 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 stopped the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.