Everton beat brave Potters

Everton lifted themselves to within four points of a Champions League berth with a nervy 3-1 victory over Stoke.

Toffees survive second-period Stoke comeback to seal win

Everton lifted themselves to within four points of a UEFA Champions League berth with a nervy 3-1 victory over Stoke at Goodison Park. Their first goal came on 18 minutes after Marouane Fellaini headed a long ball by Tim Howard down to Jo. The Brazilian then played a neat one-two with Fellaini before burying the ball under Thomas Sorensen into the net. The Toffees were two up within six minutes when Sorensen could only parry a Tim Cahill header into the feet of Joleon Lescott who gratefully tapped in from close range. But in the second-half, Stoke were a different team and got one back when Ryan Shawcross headed home from a Liam Lawrence corner in the 52nd minute. The Potters then put Everton under severe pressure but Fellaini netted in injury time to seal the win, as they made it just one defeat in their last 18 games. This game marked David Moyes' seventh anniversary as Everton boss and he recalled cup-tied Jo in place of teenager Jack Rodwell in the only change from the side which beat Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final last time. Stoke, who produced an encouraging win over Bolton last time out, retained that starting line-up, with Matthew Etherington returning to the bench after suspension. But Everton looked full of confidence, certainly early on, as you would expect from a side heading for a Wembley semi-final against Manchester United, and with European football all but confirmed for next season by virtue of their current sixth place. If Arsenal beat Hull City in their delayed cup quarter-final on Tuesday, it will virtually secure seventh place in the Premier League as a European qualification spot, further enhancing Everton's desire for at least Europa League football next term.

Early chances

They opened with a flurry of chances, created with pace and movement that worried Stoke's big defenders. Only a fine saving challenge from Salif Diao stopped Steven Pienaar finishing off a Fellaini cross, the Belgian now sporting a 'corn-rows' hair-cut instead of his trademark bushy style. Then Leon Osman fired over under pressure following a Leighton Baines cross. Stoke produced some difficult moments via Rory Delap's long throws, but after 18 minutes Everton were ahead. After a one-two with Fellaini, Jo evaded Shawcross's challenge to hit a low shot that Sorensen only half stopped, the ball rolling over the line. Lawrence needed treatment for a head injury after being caught by Baines' boot as the pair contested possession on the bye-line, and the Stoke man then found himself booked for a foul on Pienaar soon after. Stoke seemed visibly deflated, and after 24 minutes it got worse for them when Lescott side-footed home after Sorensen was only able to palm out a Cahill header following Osman's cross. It was Lescott's fifth goal of the season on his 100th league appearance for Everton, who were now in full command. Jo's clever control and pass set up Osman for another chance, but the midfielder lifted a shot just over the far angle as Everton cruised to the break largely untroubled by the Potters. Everton sent on Louis Saha for Cahill at the break, with Fellaini taking up a deeper midfield role.

Recovery

But Stoke, who recovered from 2-0 down at Aston Villa recently to grab a point, looked to again be embarking on similar powers of recovery when Shawcross headed home from a Lawrence corner after 52 minutes. Before the re-start, Mamady Sidibe was replaced by Ricardo Fuller, who soon headed wide from Delap's cross. Shawcross then just failed to connect with another Lawrence corner on the far post and Everton were looking anything but the assured outfit of the first period. Stoke sent on Etherington after 68 minutes for Delap, to hopefully supply the wing service for James Beattie and Fuller. Everton were being caught in possession, hounded all over the pitch and their general lethargy continued to give Stoke encouragement. Sorensen saved from Jo and Saha, but generally Everton were having to defend in numbers. Stoke sent on yet another forward with 10 minutes left, Henri Camara taking over from Lawrence as they strived for the equaliser. Rodwell replaced Jo with five minutes left, to add more strength to midfield as Everton hung on. Sorensen saved from Osman's 20-yarder, and then beat away Pienaar's follow-up effort as Everton hit on the break as Stoke kept coming forward. But in injury time Everton finally sealed the points when Fellaini brought down a Baines long ball and guided his shot past Sorensen.

Everton	Team Statistics	Stoke City
3	Goals	1
2	1st Half Goals	0
8	Shots on Target	2
4	Shots off Target	5
6	Blocked Shots	4
4	Corners	9
7	Fouls	14
1	Offsides	2
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
76.9	Passing Success	63
10	Tackles	19
80	Tackles Success	73.7
63.6	Possession	36.4
55.6	Territorial Advantage	44.4