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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the onus for scoring goals must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts disallowed 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 one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper 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 over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. The team would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.