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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were contained throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the interval.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

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. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender directed over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with another important stop late on.