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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net must not rest only on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued throughout by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as the young striker, the Everton forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster headed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by his teammate's fine cross.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the original call. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno saved a effort from Keane and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper did stand. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a third goal ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed past the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official.

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