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The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were contained throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal 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 £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. 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 kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane directed over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save late on.