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David Moyes had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Everton 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 Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached 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 set-piece that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with a crucial save late on.