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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a merited victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and the defender's second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

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 Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old directed the earliest chance of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried 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 buildup. But the team's next effort beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.