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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 central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham 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 kept quiet all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and withdrew the midfielder at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, 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 justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal disallowed early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. The attacker had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the closing stages for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were rejected by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions 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 Traoré with a crucial save late on.