Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored a 67th-minute winner Saturday as Everton kept up its good recent form in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Stoke.
The Nigeria striker found the target for the first time this season to deny Stoke a draw, cutting inside and smashing a fierce shot into the roof of the net after Tim Cahill had hit the post.
After a poor start to the season, Everton is now unbeaten in five matches in the league, helping it rise into the top half of the table with 13 points.
The hosts could have won by a bigger margin at Goodison Park but failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities, especially in the first half when Yakubu and Cahill were off target.
Stoke's best chance fell to Matthew Etherington in the dying stages but the left winger dragged his shot wide. The team's third league defeat in a row leaves it just one point above the relegation zone after 10 matches.
Everton welcomed back playmaker Mikel Arteta, fit again after a hamstring injury, and dominated the midfield battle against a Stoke side which was happy to defend in numbers until it was forced to attack after conceding.
The hosts, though, lacked a cutting edge in the first half, with stand-in Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic hardly troubled.
Yakubu fired a weak shot wide after being set up by Steven Pienaar, who then saw an effort from distance easily gathered by Begovic.
Phil Neville's shot was deflected into the arms of Begovic before Tim Cahill smashed over with the final chance of the first half.
The Australia midfielder headed over just after the restart before Stoke forward Tuncay Sanli had a goal ruled out for a push on Leighton Baines.
Everton's winner came after Cahill's low shot hit the post and rebounded out. Yakubu pounced on the loose ball, cut inside a defender and smashed an effort high past Begovic.
Apart from Etherington's chance, Stoke did not seriously threaten the Everton goal and the hosts could have made it 2-0 but substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was just wide from close range.
