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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net must not rest only on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's third attempt 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. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced past 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 Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.