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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 should not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort beating Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced past Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.