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David Moyes had stressed before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I want more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

Everton’s second win in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors showed the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and technical ability. Moyes’ team had three efforts ruled out for offside, 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 the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton attacker who had failed to register a shot on target in 10 league games without testing the goalkeeper after his £27m summer arrival from Villarreal and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

Everton dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The Serbian brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, however, and substituted the midfielder at the interval.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when arriving at the far post to convert a drilled pass by his teammate. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and failing to connect, and the video assistant referee supported the on-field decision. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and effort occupied the opposition's back line and helped give Everton the edge throughout.

The Londoners grew into the game gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the first half threat from the visitors was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at the England keeper when teed up inside the area by his teammate and sent a set-piece from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. And that was it.

The Blues, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The home captain had just strayed offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s delivery in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt beating the keeper did stand. Vitalii Mykolenko floated a perfect ball to the far post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner Gueye finished from point-blank. The relief inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from another inviting Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into the striker, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a set-piece that Keane directed over Leno. He scored with the back of his shoulder, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his legs to prevent Muniz scoring with his initial involvement and stopped Traoré with another important stop in the dying moments.