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David Moyes 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 defenders and central players as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's toothless side.

The Merseyside club's second win in nine outings was largely untroubled as the visitors highlighted the reason their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued throughout by the home team's greater urgency and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals 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 reprieve 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 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 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over the midfielder's 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the same player again before halftime but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. The Fulham boss was not risking anything, though, and substituted the player at the interval.

Barry believed his fortune had changed at last when arriving at the back post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was in an illegal position when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in the final third, but his overall display validated Moyes’ decision to keep the faith. His movement and work-rate kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to Everton the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by his teammate and put a free-kick from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and the captain volleyed in the loose ball. The skipper had just strayed offside when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past Leno counted. Vitalii Mykolenko delivered a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender met it with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from point-blank. The relief inside the ground was evident.

Everton had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from a further excellent delivery from the left. The attacker had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was offside when challenging the Fulham defender for the ball that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the security of a two-goal lead. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a corner that Keane glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the upper body, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.