🔗 Share this article Idrissa Gueye and Keane on target as the Toffees defeat the Cottagers David Moyes had made clear before Fulham's visit that the responsibility for scoring goals should not fall solely on his side's forwards. “I demand more goals from my centre-halves and central players as well,” he declared. The Senegalese midfielder and the English defender duly obliged, securing a fully deserved victory over the opposition's ineffective team. The Merseyside club's second win in nine matches was largely untroubled as the visitors showed why their top marksman this season is opposition own goals. Aside from a short spell in the second half, the away side were contained all match by Everton’s superior intensity and technical ability. The Blues had three goals ruled out for infringements, but a poacher’s finish from Gueye in added time before the break and Keane’s second-half header ensured there would be no reprieve for their ex-coach. No one was more in need of scoring more than 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 big-money move from the Spanish side and missed a gilt-edged chance to put his team two goals ahead at the Stadium of Light earlier in the week. The youngster directed the first opportunity of the game wide of Bernd Leno’s goal frame when found by Iliman Ndiaye’s fine cross. The home side dominated the early exchanges and the Fulham goalkeeper tipped over James Garner’s 30-yard free-kick, given after the Fulham player was booked for hauling down the Everton midfielder. Lukic brought down the same player later in the half but the official, the man in charge, correctly waved away home protests for a second yellow. Silva was taking no further chances, though, and withdrew the player at the break. The striker believed his fortune had changed at last when sliding in at the far post to convert a low cross by Gueye. But the joy of a first Everton goal was wiped out by an assistant referee’s flag. Ndiaye was offside when going for Gueye’s cross, and failing to connect, and the VAR supported the original call. The forward's bad luck may have persisted in the final third, but his all-round performance validated the manager's choice to keep the faith. His runs and work-rate occupied Fulham’s central defenders and contributed to the hosts the edge all game. The centre-back makes the points safe with his late header. The Londoners came into the contest slowly with Sander Berge and the ex-Goodison player the Nigerian combining effectively in the engine room, but the first half threat from the away team was limited. Raúl Jiménez shot tamely at Jordon Pickford when teed up inside the area by Iwobi and sent a set-piece from a promising location straight into the Everton wall. And that was it. The Blues, inspired by Dewsbury-Hall and the forward, had a second goal disallowed for offside when Leno parried a Keane header and James Tarkowski fired home the rebound. The home captain had moved offside when heading on Jack Grealish’s cross in the buildup. But Everton’s third attempt past the keeper counted. The left-back delivered a lovely cross to the back post when left unmarked on the left by the youngster. The defender connected with a thumping header off the crossbar and, though Iroegbunam mishit the rebound, his midfield partner Gueye finished from close range. The sense of release inside Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable. Everton had a third goal ruled out after the restart after the playmaker found the bottom corner from another inviting delivery from the left. The attacker had laid off the delivery into Barry, who was in an offside position when competing with the Fulham defender for the touch that fell to the Everton midfielder. Everton would have to wait until the 81st minute for the comfort of a second goal. Dewsbury-Hall was the architect with a set-piece that the defender glanced past Leno. He scored with the upper body, and Fulham’s appeals for handball were rejected by the video official. Fulham posed more danger following the introductions of Josh King, Rodrigo Muniz and Adama Traoré. Pickford made a fine stop with his feet to prevent Muniz finding the net with his initial involvement and denied the speedster with another important stop in the dying moments.