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David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, securing a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was fairly straightforward as the visitors showed the reason their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the away side were contained all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. 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 player needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy 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 failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender directed past Leno. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.