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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane duly obliged, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target 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 directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

Barry thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer finished from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.