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David Moyes had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for finding the back of the net 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 the English defender responded perfectly, delivering a merited victory over Marco Silva’s ineffective side.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was fairly straightforward as the visitors highlighted why their top marksman this season is goals gifted by opponents. Aside from a brief flurry in the second half, the visitors were contained all match by the home team's greater urgency and technical ability. The Blues had three efforts ruled out for infringements, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s second-half header made sure there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach.

No player was more in need of scoring as much as 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 big-money move from Villarreal and spurned a gilt-edged chance to put his team 2-0 up at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after Sasa Lukic was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic tripped the identical opponent later in the half but the official, the man in charge, rightly ignored Everton appeals for a second yellow. Silva was not risking anything, though, and substituted the midfielder at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the back post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a maiden strike was erased by an linesman's decision. Ndiaye was offside when attacking Gueye’s cross, 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 justified Moyes’ decision to stick with him. His runs and effort kept busy the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the upper hand all game.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez fired weakly at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper parried a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had just strayed beyond the last defender when heading on the winger's delivery in the buildup. But the team's next effort beating Leno counted. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the far post when found in space on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. The defender connected with a powerful nod against the bar and, though Iroegbunam fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after Dewsbury-Hall scored from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had cushioned the delivery into Barry, who was offside when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the home player. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the security of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by VAR.

Silva’s side carried more of a threat following the introductions of the forward, the Brazilian and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny the substitute scoring with his first touch and stopped the speedster with another important stop late on.