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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the onus for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one was more in need of scoring more than 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 big-money move from Villarreal and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass 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 missing, and the VAR backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger after the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.