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David Moyes had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion ensured 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 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 on Monday. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired 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 loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his first touch and stopped the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.