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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a merited victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated 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 mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that Keane glanced over Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.