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David Moyes had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, delivering a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as Fulham demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton attacker 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 spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's next effort past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a corner that Keane directed past Leno. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.