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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane responded perfectly, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

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 Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up 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 fine cross.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space 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 Gueye finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

The home side 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 the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and stopped the speedster with a crucial save late on.