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David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

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 brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. 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 beating the keeper did stand. The left-back 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 powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that the defender directed over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.