Idrissa Gueye along with Keane on target as the Toffees sink the Cottagers

The Everton manager had made clear before the match against Fulham that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my defenders and midfielders as well,” he declared. Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane rose to the occasion, earning a well-earned victory over Marco Silva’s toothless team.

The Merseyside club's second victory in nine matches was relatively comfortable as the visitors showed the reason their leading scorer this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the latter period, the away side were subdued throughout by the home team's superior intensity and quality. Moyes’ team had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from Gueye in first-half stoppage time and the defender's late conversion made sure there would be no reprieve for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal more than the young striker, the Everton forward 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 2-0 up at the Stadium of Light on Monday. The 23-year-old directed the first opportunity of the game over the Fulham keeper's goal frame when found by his teammate's excellent delivery.

The home side controlled the opening stages and the visiting shot-stopper pushed over James Garner’s long-range set-piece, given after the Fulham player was yellow-carded for hauling down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Lukic brought down the same player again before halftime but the referee, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a sending off. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the interval.

The striker thought his luck had finally turned when arriving at the far post to turn in a drilled pass by his teammate. But the elation of a maiden strike was erased by an assistant referee’s flag. The attacker was in an illegal position when going for the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his overall display justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and work-rate occupied the opposition's back line and helped give the hosts the upper hand all game.

The Londoners came into the contest gradually with the Norwegian and the former Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi working well in the engine room, but the early danger from the away team was limited. The Mexican striker shot tamely at the England keeper when set up in the box by Iwobi and sent a free-kick from a dangerous position directly at the Everton wall. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a another strike chalked off for an infringement when the Fulham goalkeeper saved a effort from Keane and the captain volleyed in the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the build-up. But Everton’s next effort beating Leno counted. The left-back delivered a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left flank by the youngster. The defender connected with a powerful nod off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his teammate Gueye converted from close range. The relief inside the ground was evident.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from a further excellent Mykolenko cross. Ndiaye had laid off the delivery into the striker, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that reached the home player. Everton would have to wait until the closing stages for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the architect with a corner that Keane directed over the goalkeeper. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were dismissed by VAR.

Fulham carried more of a threat after the introductions of the forward, Rodrigo Muniz and the winger. Pickford saved well with his legs to prevent the substitute finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with a crucial save in the dying moments.