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The Everton manager had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals must not rest only on the team's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he stated. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender rose to the occasion, delivering a merited victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as Fulham showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park 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 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 Bernd Leno’s goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian tripped the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, however, and withdrew the player at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when sliding in at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the upper hand throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location directly at the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, driven on by the midfielder and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when Leno parried a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had moved offside when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s next effort past Leno did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a further effort ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a corner that the defender directed past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford saved well with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.