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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity 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 crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball 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 set-piece that the defender directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save late on.