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Everton let Birmingham off the hook

Tim Cahill returned to the starting line-up for today's game at St Andrews, with Everton once again failing to improve significantly on their away form in the rinal run-in of 10 league games. After a quiet start, Everton felt out their hosts and started to apply some pressure around 20 mins. Arteta played in Anichebe who scored a superb goal, soon followed by a beautiful chipped cross from Pienaar that Yakubu nodded home. 2-0! But Jerome soon pulled one back with a soft finish and then after the break, the Birmingham equalised when Gardner latched into Jersome's flick to fire from 18 yards. And that was pretty much it as Everton, for the most part, sank back into their shell. Donovan appeared for a farewell cameo but it was not enough to win all the points. Full report

Birmingham City vs Everton

10 games left of the season and Everton turn down the final straight with repeat European qualification in their sights and Birmingham City, their immediate rivals in the chase for what may yet turn out to be three Europa League-qualifying spots, next up. Tim Cahill and Louis Saha may play some part but are unlikely to start, but Leon Osman is ruled out through injury. KO is 3pm.

Vaughan joins Leicester on loan

Everton have confirmed that James Vaughan has joined Leicester City on loan, initially for one month. With David Moyes apparently favouring Yakubu, Saha and Anichebe, the 21 year-old should have a better chance of some good first-team football with the promotion-chasing Championship side.

Kenwright still searching "24/7"

This article in the local press confirms that nothing seems to have changed Bill Kenwright's fruitless multi-year "24/7" search for a billionaire to invest in Everton. �The truth is Everton do need a billionaire� he says. �Of course that�s a stock phrase, but we do need major investment. One of the difficulties of being a chairman who has had to use money as wisely as he possibly knows how, is that it�s hard when you get bombarded, as I have been in the last three AGMs, with questions like �Why can�t we have what Newcastle have? West Ham? Portsmouth?� Solution: No more AGMs!

Ruddy delighted with his stats

John Ruddy is enjoying a stellar season on loan at Motherwell and wasn�t slow to point out that his clean sheet against  St Mirren on Tuesday was his 15th of the season. �I do like to keep track of my clean sheets... Ratio-wise, I think I had a better spell at Stockport when it was eight in 13 games. But this is up there and it also means more to me because it�s over a longer period.�

Vaughan set to join Leicester

Rumour Mill: James Vaughan will apparently sign for Leicester City this week — presumably on loan-cum-permanent move? — much to the chagrin of Derby County who lost the striker's services earlier this season when a loan spell was cut short by injury.

MirrorFootball report that David Moyes wants to cash in on the 21 year-old and will allow him to join the Rams' Midlands and promotion-chasing rivals, Leicester.

Pienaar dismisses move talk

Steven Pienaar has dismissed reports that he could leave Everton this summer: �I can�t say anything because I wasn�t approached,� said Pienaar, who has just over a year remaining on his current deal. From my point of view, I�m an Everton player and I don�t want stuff like that to distract me from what I�m doing. It is speculation. When you play well, there will always be talk of interest from clubs. I�m happy at Everton.�

Ruddy admits future lies elsewhere

John Ruddy has admitted that the pending arrival of Jan Mucha this summer is a clear sign that his footballing future lies away from Goodison Park if he is to keep playing at first-team level.

Battle to Keep Donovan is Over

Everton faced an uphill battle to persuade the MLS and Los Angeles Galaxy to lengthen Landon Donovan's loan spell, although the player made it clear he wanted to remain on Merseyside for another month. Under the terms of the 10-week agreement signed in January, Donovan is due to report for training in California on Monday 15 March but David Moyes and the player have made clear their desire for the American international to extend his stay to 15 April. However, Bruce Arena has reaffirmed his position and Donovan will leave after the Birmingham game this weekend.

All Together Now...

Despite getting the cold shoulder from Liverpool FC, Everton and Liverpool fan groups will meet at The Sandon on 12 March to further promote the idea of a Football Quarter in Liverpool.

Pienaar gets 12-month driving ban

Steven Pienaar has been banned from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving. He was also fined �1,000 for the offence and ordered to pay a further �100 fine for failing to comply with a traffic signal.

Arteta happy with return to form

Mikel Arteta says he was delighted see the Toffees return to form following their 5-1 win over Hull City on Sunday. "We played some terrific football today," Arteta told BBC Radio Merseyside after securing the Blues' sixth successive league win at home. "We wanted to get back from both defeats last week and we have. We scored a few goals and I'm delighted. I've been out for a long time and I was expected to score a few goals."

From My Seat: Hull City (H)

Ken Buckley provides his assessment of the goalfest against Hull...

Match Report - Donovan's Day

Paul Traill gives his account of a great day and a great game as Everton pulverize Hull City

Everton 5 - 1 Hull City

A stylish display and a feast of goals that could, with more luck, have matched Moyes's record 7-1 win over Sunderland

Match Report - Everton 5-1 Hull City

ToffeeWeb's report on the stylish 5-1 win over Hull City.

Donovan: “There's a chance of staying”

Landon Donovan admitted in his post-match interview with Sky that there's a chance his loan spell at Everton could be extended. "We'll know more this week," the American said after scoring in the 5-1 rout of Hull City.

Rampant Blues slaughter Hull

Mikel Arteta really came into his own in this game, with Donovan oddly left on the bench. The Best Little Spaniard opened the scoring in the first half. This should have been added to with a penalty that was dispatched woefully by Yakubu and saved easily by Myhill. After that, of course, Hull equalized before Arteta's lovely second goal as Everton's superior class finally shone through. The third goal came in the second half and it looked like Arteta's hattrick off a tricky lob from the byelinebut it went in off Garcia for an own-goal. Landon Donovan came on for a final 20-minute home cameo and rounded it off in perfect fashion with an excellent finish for the fourth goal — a splendid leaving present. With Hull reeling, Donovan set up Jack Rodwell for the coup de grace that made this a real Big Win for the Blues... long, long overdue.

Everton vs Hull City

Everton hope to get their European challenge back on track when Hull City, winless on the road in 12 months, visit Goodison Park tomorrow. Phil Jagielka, Louis Saha, Leon Osman, James Vaughan and Philippe Senderos could all miss out with minor knocks and strains but Tim Cahill may return from a calf injury. KO is 4pm.

Could Donovan yet stay at Goodison?

Hopes that Landon Donovan could remain an Everton player after the initially agreed loan term expires this month were raised today after David Moyes hinted in his pre-match press conference that he hasn't ruled out keeping the USA international forward: "It looks like all parties are keen. There's no guarantee yet, and I won't know that for a little while longer but there is a chance. But if we can make it happen, we would and if Landon wants to stay, which I think he does, we'd be really keen to keep him." Galaxy coach, Bruce Arena, says, however, "We're not interested. Landon will be back here March 15."