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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's third attempt past the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender glanced over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.