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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable 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 kept quiet all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’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, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security 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 the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.