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David Moyes had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not rest only on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a fully deserved victory over Marco Silva’s toothless side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as Fulham demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No player was more in need of scoring 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 big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by his teammate's fine cross.

The home side controlled 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 fouling the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the break.

Barry thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and missing, and the VAR backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and effort kept busy Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But the team's third attempt past Leno counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.