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David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not rest only on the team's strikers. “I want more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were kept quiet throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion made sure there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No one was more in need of scoring more than Thierno Barry, the Everton attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his £27m summer arrival from the Spanish side and spurned a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

Everton dominated the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game slowly with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the visitors was minimal. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and put a free-kick from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike chalked off for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort beating the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was evident.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after the playmaker scored from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side posed more danger following the substitutions of the forward, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper made a fine stop with his legs to deny the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save late on.