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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion made sure 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 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 Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance 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 the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored 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 ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.