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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals must not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster headed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s crossbar when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in front of goal, but his overall display justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge all game.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when nodding down the winger's delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort past Leno did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his teammate Gueye finished from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.