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David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, delivering a fully deserved victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham showed why their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.