Idrissa Gueye and Keane find the net as Everton defeat the Cottagers

David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a merited victory over the opposition's toothless team.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors demonstrated the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for offside, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one needed a goal more than Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park forward who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, however, and withdrew the player at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a free-kick from a promising location directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a Keane header and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by VAR.

Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his first touch and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.