Idrissa Gueye along with Michael Keane on target as Everton overcome Fulham

The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors demonstrated why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton 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 spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out 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. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. 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 backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest 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 teed up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. 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 beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.