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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, securing a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as 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 big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider 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 rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.