Idrissa Gueye and Keane on target as the Toffees sink Fulham

David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the away side were kept quiet all match by Everton’s greater urgency 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 late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as 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 the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his luck had changed at last when arriving at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno parried a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the loose ball. The home captain had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed past the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.