Mikel Arteta struck twice as Everton kept their European push alive
with a 5-1 win over Premier League strugglers Hull at Goodison on
Sunday.
The Spaniard found the net either side of a sublime Tom
Cairney equaliser to spare the blushes of profligate striker
Ayegbeni Yakubu in the first half at Goodison Park.
The Nigerian hit the post and missed a penalty but it
ultimately mattered little as Everton overran their visitors in the
second half.
Richard Garcia headed an Arteta cross into his own net and
substitutes Landon Donovan, making the final home appearance of his
loan spell from Los Angeles Galaxy, and Jack Rodwell completing the
rout.
Hull, who remain in the bottom three, struggled to live with
the Merseysiders for most of the game.
Midfield talisman Jimmy Bullard, returning after a
three-month lay-off, failed to make an impact and the absences of
Anthony Gardner and Andy Dawson weakened their defence
considerably.
Everton, in recording a club record-equalling sixth
successive Premier League home win, were simply stronger in all
departments.
Were it not for Yakubu having a personal nightmare in front
of goal, the damage could have been much worse.
It might have been different had Garcia taken an early chance
after brilliantly controlling a high ball from Nick Barmby, but Tim
Howard jumped to block his shot.
Everton hit back on the break with Arteta getting a chance to
shoot after his poor pass was hit straight back to him by Kevin
Kilbane but he sliced wide.
Arteta fired wide again moments later and Amr Zaki did no
better at the other end with a scuffed effort.
Leon Osman then carved out Yakubu's first clear-cut chance
with a superb throughball but the Nigerian, alone up front in place
of the injured Louis Saha, hit the post with Boaz Myhill beaten.
Yakubu did his best to put that behind him by delivering the
deep cross for Arteta's opener after 17 minutes.
The former Middlesbrough man found space on the left and
picked out Arteta at the far post with precision.
Yakubu's touch deserted him again soon after, however, as he
missed from the spot, although Hull could claim the penalty award
by referee Lee Mason was harsh in the first place.
It came after Hull were caught by Leighton Baines on the left
and Yakubu went down as both he and Kamil Zayatte battled to reach
his cross.
Yakubu was keen to take responsibility from 12 yards but his
stop-start run-up was followed by a tame shot and Myhill saved to
his right.
Hull made Yakubu pay as highly-rated teenager Cairney
levelled superbly after 31 minutes.
Barmby's free-kick was headed out by Phil Jagielka - making
his first start of the season - and Cairney controlled on his chest
before firing a left-footed shot across Howard from 20 yards.
But the scores were not level for long as Victor Anichebe
broke down the right and pulled the ball back into the box.
Steven Pienaar helped it on its way with a backheel and the
inrushing Arteta slotted his second with a well-placed finish.
Everton really turned up the pressure early in the second
half.
Arteta sensed a chance to claim a hat-trick soon after the
restart when Pienaar was brought down by George Boateng but then
hit his free-kick into the wall.
Yakubu's hapless afternoon continued as he broke clear to
square for Anichebe to tap in only to see the offside flag raised
against him.
Rodwell, introduced just before half-time for the injured
Osman, then saw a shot deflected against the post.
Persistence eventually paid off with a third goal after 51
minutes.
Myhill flapped at an Arteta cross under his own crossbar and
the unsuspecting Garcia could do little to prevent the ball
bouncing off his head and in.
Arteta took the congratulations of his team-mates as if he
had completed a treble but an own goal was recorded.
Pienaar then laid on a chance for Rodwell after breaking down
the right but his shot was deflected wide.
The one-way traffic continued as Sylvain Distin broke into
the box and shot straight at Myhill.
Yakubu endured more torment after combining well with
substitute Donovan but then lifting over the bar from in front of
goal.
Donovan showed him how to finish by smashing home a superb
fourth goal after two Hull defenders failed to clear a Baines cross
eight minutes from time.
Everton still had time for more as John Heitinga found
Donovan out wide and the American pulled back for Rodwell to clip
home a fifth.
