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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity 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 second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than 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 clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated 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 ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.