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The Everton manager had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were contained all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings 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 youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the interval.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past Leno did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that the defender directed past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save late on.