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The Everton manager had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, earning a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one 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 £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. The team would have to wait until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.