Match Report & Highlights

Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane scored in either half as Everton secured a 2–0 win over Fulham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Gueye made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time before Keane converted a corner to earn David Moyes' side a first Premier League win in four games and move them into mid-table.

Everton made a bright start, pressing high and forcing Fulham deep into their own half. Thierno Barry and Iliman Ndiaye were constant threats early on, while Bernd Leno had to be alert to keep the scores level.

The breakthrough arrived when Vitalii Mykolenko's cross was nodded against the bar by James Tarkowski. Tim Iroegbunam's follow-up was miscued and Gueye reacted quickest to smash home from close range, his first goal of the season and a deserved reward for Everton's dominance.

As it happened | Teams | Stats

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Fulham improved after the break, with substitutes Josh King and Rodrigo Muniz adding energy up top, but Everton's defence stood firm.

Jordan Pickford denied Muniz before the striker was forced off with what appeared an injury. Despite some brief pressure, the visitors could not find a way through.

With nine minutes remaining, Everton made the game safe. Keane rose highest from a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall corner to power home a header at the near post, sparking celebrations from the home fans and sealing a thoroughly professional display.

Fulham’s defeat means they stay just one point clear of the Premier League relegation zone and the pressure is beginning to mount on Marco Silva’s side. After last weekend’s 3-0 win over Wolves, this was a chance to build momentum, but instead they found themselves second best for large spells and punished at key moments.

Silva will know his side need to rediscover their edge quickly, with performances like this showing promise in spells but lacking the consistency and cutting edge required to pull clear of danger.

Silva: We were not good enough

Fulham boss Marco Silva cut a frustrated figure after his side's 2-0 defeat at Everton, admitting both the performance and the result fell well below expectations.

The Cottagers were second best for long spells and struggled to match Everton's intensity for much of the afternoon.

"Today was not good enough in terms of performance or result," Silva told Sky Sports.

"It's definitely a disappointing afternoon for us, and we got what we deserved; it's as simple as that."

Reflecting on the game, Silva said his team only showed their true quality for a brief spell after the break and couldn't maintain the competitiveness needed to get a result.

"We didn't start well, and for the first 20 minutes of the second half, we played in a way that reflects our identity.

"You can always win or lose football matches, but you have to be competitive, and this afternoon we were only competitive for about 20 minutes of the game."

Moyes: Performance and result both very good

Everton manager David Moyes was full of praise for his side's display after their 2-0 win over Fulham, highlighting both the performance and the importance of getting the result they needed.

"The result and the performance were both very good. Obviously, the performance is one of the important things, but the most important is winning," Moyes told Sky Sports.

Reflecting on the performance, Moyes said he was delighted with both the quality of play and the way his players saw the game out.

"To get the three points was vital for us but, look, over the piece, I thought we deserved it. I thought we played some really good stuff at times.

"Fulham are a good side and always had a threat in the game as well, so it was good to get the second goal and calm things down a little bit."

Analysis: Everton show signs of balance under Moyes

Sky Sports’ Sam Cohen:

Everton may have looked comfortable by full-time, but it wasn’t all straightforward at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Fulham grew into the game after the break, pressing higher and finding space on the counter, with King and Muniz both forcing Pickford into action.

For a spell, the visitors looked capable of finding an equaliser, but Everton’s organisation held firm. When Keane powered in a header late on to add to Gueye’s first-half strike, it ended any hopes of a Fulham comeback.

It wasn’t flawless, but it was efficient. Everton showed resilience, patience and a growing sense of balance under Moyes, and their ability to see out tight games like this suggests progress.

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