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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion 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 Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.