🔗 Share this article

David Moyes had made clear before the match against Fulham that the onus for finding the back of the net should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I expect more goals from my defenders and central players as well,” he insisted. Idrissa Gueye and the English defender responded perfectly, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective side.

Everton’s second victory in nine outings was relatively comfortable as Fulham highlighted why their leading scorer this season is goals gifted by opponents. Apart from a short spell in the latter period, the visitors were subdued all match by Everton’s superior intensity and quality. The Blues had three goals ruled out for offside, but a close-range strike from the midfielder in first-half stoppage time and Keane’s late conversion ensured there would be no comeback for the former Everton manager.

No one needed a goal as much as Thierno Barry, the Goodison Park attacker who had gone 10 Premier League outings without a shot on target after his big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a clear opportunity to put his team two goals ahead at Sunderland earlier in the week. The 23-year-old headed the earliest chance of the game wide of the Fulham keeper's crossbar when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent delivery.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and the visiting shot-stopper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, awarded after Sasa Lukic was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic tripped the same player later in the half but the official, Andrew Madley, correctly waved away Everton appeals for a sending off. The Fulham boss was taking no further chances, though, and substituted the player at the break.

The striker thought his fortune had finally turned when sliding in at the back post to turn in a low cross by Gueye. But the elation of a first Everton goal was erased by an linesman's decision. The attacker was offside when attacking the delivery, and missing, and the video assistant referee supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have continued in front of goal, but his all-round performance justified the manager's choice to stick with him. His runs and effort occupied the opposition's back line and contributed to the hosts the edge throughout.

Fulham grew into the game gradually with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in midfield, but the early danger from the away team was minimal. The Mexican striker shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when set up inside the area by his teammate and put a set-piece from a dangerous position straight into the defensive barrier. That summed up their attacking output.

Everton, inspired by the midfielder and Ndiaye, had a another strike disallowed for offside when Leno saved a Keane header and the captain fired home the loose ball. The skipper had moved offside when heading on the winger's cross in the buildup. But the team's next effort past the keeper did stand. The left-back floated a perfect ball to the back post when left unmarked on the left by Tim Iroegbunam. Tarkowski connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though the midfielder fluffed his lines, his midfield partner the scorer converted from close range. The sense of release inside the ground was palpable.

The home side had a further effort ruled out early in the second half after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. Ndiaye had cushioned the ball into the striker, who was in an offside position when challenging Joachim Anderson for the ball that reached the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to be patient until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. The provider was the creator with a set-piece that Keane directed over Leno. He did so with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for a handball were dismissed by the video official.

Fulham posed more danger after the substitutions of Josh King, the Brazilian and the winger. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to deny Muniz scoring with his first touch and denied Traoré with another important stop late on.