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The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.