Toffees claim easy Hull win

Two-first half goals saw Everton record an easy home victory over a Hull City side who lacked bite.

Fellaini and Arteta strikes seal comfortable victory

Two-first half goals saw Everton record a comfortable home victory over a Hull City side who lacked bite. Their opener was fortunate as Marouane Fellaini was offside when he headed home a Leighton Baines cross from the left on 18 minutes. But there was nothing lucky about their second as Mikel Arteta hit a fantastic 25-yard free-kick into the roof of the net on the stroke of half-time which gave City keeper Boaz Myhill no chance. After the break neither side created a chance of note as the Toffees claimed an easy win to keep up their push at the top of the table. Everton made one change from the side that won at Macclesfield last week in the FA Cup, midfielder Fellaini returning in place of striker Victor Anichebe. City, who had not played at Goodison Park since 1964, rested several players in their cup draw to Newcastle last weekend, but Myhill, Ian Ashbee, Nick Barmby, Bernard Mendy, Marlon King and Kamil Zayatte all returned for this one. Barmby, who left Goodison for Liverpool almost nine years ago, suffered booing from the home fans who have long memories about such acts. But it did not bother the now veteran midfielder who was very much part of the Tigers' bright start. Phil Brown's side were competitive, quick into the tackle, and saw Michael Turner heading just off target from a corner after 10 minutes.

Fellaini goal

But it was Everton who were soon in front. Baines fired over an 18th-minute cross, and Fellaini was able to head home from an offside position into the far corner. Nine minutes later Fellaini should have had a second but put his header from six yards out following Tim Cahill's cross from the right wide of a post. Referee Martin Atkinson had let quite a lot go unpunished in an increasingly fractious match, but he had the book out to caution Mendy for a foul on Baines. This was a mark of Everton's increased possession, as they pushed the visitors back. But despite Steven Pienaar and Baines frequently getting to the byline, the final ball into the box was not good enough. But when Turner fouled Cahill about 25 yards out in first-half injury-time, there was nothing wrong with Arteta's stunning delivery from the free-kick. His fierce effort crashed past Myhill's flailing right hand for Everton's second.

Second period

Soon after the restart, Everton's joy at a two-goal lead was tainted by the 10th booking of the season for Fellaini, which now rules him out of the next two matches - the derbies with Liverpool. The Belgian had fouled Turner, and referee Atkinson pointedly signalled several fouls committed by the midfielder around the pitch earlier. City had Sam Ricketts and Zayatte booked as the game became heated with Cahill also receiving a yellow card. The visitors sent on Craig Fagan and Daniel Cousin for Dean Marney and Geovanni, while Anichebe came on for Cahill. Cousin was booked for a foul on Phil Jagielka before the Tigers then replaced Paul McShane with Peter Halmosi. But by now the game had deteriorated into a niggly affair, with barely any goal mouth action as Everton hung on to their lead with City failing to get within range of Tim Howard until injury-time when Ashbee blasted over from outside the box. Teenager Jack Rodwell, who is expected to sign a new long-term contract next week, replaced Arteta in the final seconds and Fagan was then booked for a late foul on Fellaini.

Everton	Team Statistics	Hull City
2	Goals	0
2	1st Half Goals	0
2	Shots on Target	0
3	Shots off Target	5
3	Blocked Shots	0
5	Corners	3
14	Fouls	26
3	Offsides	4
2	Yellow Cards	5
0	Red Cards	0
69.1	Passing Success	61
18	Tackles	18
66.7	Tackles Success	83.3
51.5	Possession	48.5
59.6	Territorial Advantage	40.4