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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not rest only on the team's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts disallowed for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a set-piece from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating Leno did stand. The left-back floated 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 Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye finished from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane directed over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.