Idrissa Gueye along with Keane on target as the Toffees overcome Fulham

The Everton manager had emphasized before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for finding the back of the net should not rest only on his side's strikers. “I expect more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he stated. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a brief flurry in the latter period, the visitors were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, the Goodison Park forward who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance 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 over Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

Everton controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper pushed over the midfielder's long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by his teammate. But the joy of a maiden strike was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee backed up the on-field decision. Barry’s misfortune may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated the manager's choice to stick with him. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a second goal chalked off for offside when Leno parried a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when nodding down the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a lovely cross to the far post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder mishit the rebound, his midfield partner the scorer finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. The attacker had cushioned the ball into Barry, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a two-goal lead. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that the defender directed over Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.