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David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second win in nine outings was fairly straightforward as the visitors highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian 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 set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But the team's next effort past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a corner that Keane glanced over Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save late on.