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The Everton manager had emphasized before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's strikers. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender duly obliged, earning a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s toothless team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated the reason 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 Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Goodison Park forward 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 missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, rightly ignored home protests for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His movement and work-rate 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 the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by the youngster. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer finished from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when competing with Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop late on.