Jermaine Beckford continued his fine run of form with both goals as Everton beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
The English striker managed just three goals in his first 18 appearances of the season, but now has five in his last eight.
Beckford's first came after only eight minutes when his shot deflected off Sunderland defender Titus Bramble and past Simon Mignolet in the visitors' goal.
The former Leeds man added a second half an hour later with a scuffed finish as Everton extended its unbeaten streak against Sunderland to 14 games.
''When we brought him to the club the idea was we brought him on slowly and we had to put him in a bit too early,'' Everton manager David Moyes said. ''But I always thought if he got his chance and played some games he would get goals and he is proving that.''
Beckford signed for Everton in the summer after scoring 31 goals for Leeds in the third tier last season.
''It has been a big step up for him - it is for any player to jump up two divisions - and it was going to take time,'' Moyes added. ''He has got to improve on other aspects of his game but I think his movement in the box is as good as I have seen from a lot of the best.''
The closest Sunderland came to scoring was when Stephane Sessegnon saw his shot tipped onto the crossbar by Tim Howard when Everton led 1-0.
Steve Bruce's side have now lost four league games in a row and not won at Goodison Park since 1996.
''We seem to save our worst for Everton for some reason,'' Bruce said. ''Throughout the season you have disappointing games and disappointing moments and there is no doubt this was one of them. We were second best all afternoon.
''When you come away to somewhere like Everton you have to produce a better performance and have more resilience about you than we did today.''
