🔗 Share this article

David Moyes had stressed before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's strikers. “I want more goals from my centre-halves and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a well-earned victory over the opposition's ineffective team.

Everton’s second victory in nine matches was largely untroubled as Fulham demonstrated why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained all match by the home team's superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals disallowed for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from the midfielder in added time before the break and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for their ex-coach.

No player needed a goal as much as the young striker, 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 Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when picked out by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for fouling the Everton midfielder. The Serbian brought down the identical opponent again before halftime but the referee, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker believed his luck had finally turned when arriving at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee backed up the original call. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and helped give the hosts the edge throughout.

The Londoners came into the contest slowly with the Norwegian and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up in the box by his teammate and sent a free-kick from a promising location straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a Keane header and James Tarkowski volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved beyond the last defender when nodding down Jack Grealish’s delivery in the build-up. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left flank by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender met it with a thumping header against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his teammate the scorer finished from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a third goal disallowed after the restart after the playmaker scored from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had laid off the ball into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with Joachim Anderson for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to be patient until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that the defender glanced past the goalkeeper. He did so with the back of his shoulder, and the visitors' protests for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. The Everton keeper saved well with his legs to deny the substitute scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with a crucial save in the dying moments.