Idrissa Gueye along with Keane find the net as Everton defeat the Cottagers

The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net must not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he insisted. The Senegalese midfielder and Michael Keane duly obliged, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were subdued all match by Everton’s greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, 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 clear opportunity to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game over the Fulham keeper's crossbar when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the same player later in the half but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the midfielder at the break.

Barry thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, 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 overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. And that was it.

The Blues, driven on by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's third attempt beating the keeper counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the far post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski met it with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced over the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat following the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his first touch and stopped Traoré with another important stop late on.