Derby County 0 Everton 2

Everton strolled to an impressive victory in a one-sided encounter at Pride Park but cast further doubts on Derby's ability to survive in the Premiership.

A first-half goal from Mikel Arteta and a second-half strike by Yakubu were all the visitors needed to secure the points against a team that hardly managed a meaningful response.

Tim Howard was barely tested in the 90 minutes and Derby could have no complaints about a defeat that leaves them stuck in the bottom three.

The game would have been over by half-time if Everton had been more clinical in their finishing with Arteta surprisingly at fault as early as the fourth minute when he hit a shot from ten yards straight into the arms of Stephen Bywater.

Tim Cahill also put a header wide from a cross by former Derby midfielder Lee Carsley, but the home side's good fortune ran out in the 25th minute.

Eddie Lewis takes on Rams old Boy Lee Carsley in today's match

Phil Jagielka threaded a ball in from the right channel and, after Yakubu had stepped over it, Arteta advanced unchallenged to strike a right-foot shot into the far corner.

The only work that Tim Howard had to do before the break was to drop onto a 25-yard shot from Stephen Pearson but the chances of a more competitive second half were quickly ended as Everton took control from the start.

With Leon Osman outstanding in midfield, Everton did much as they pleased and it was no surprise when they scored a second goal in the 63rd minute.

Osman's pass after he cut in from the left opened up Derby once again and Yakubu took one touch before firing low past Bywater and inside the left-hand post.

The Rams tried to inject some purpose into their play by bringing on record signing Robert Earnshaw and Steve Howard but Everton were rarely troubled.

Alan Stubbs replaced the injured Leighton Baines at half-time and Joseph Yobo dealt comfortably with the few attacks Derby mustered and it was the visitors who always looked more likely to score.

Cahill was denied a third by a superb challenge from Claude Davis and the game ended with Everton in possession which summed up the way a one-sided contest had been played.

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