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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 fall solely on the team's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the visitors were contained all match by Everton’s greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring more than the young striker, the Goodison Park attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The youngster directed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The skipper had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But the team's next effort past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort disallowed early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.