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Everton prevail in tussle with Hull

Everton 2 - 1 Hull City

Everton got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over a tenacious Hull City side thanks to a goal in each half and a decisive intervention from the returning Steven Pienaar.

Roberto Martinez named his expected line-up that saw Gareth Barry return to the side at the expense of Steven Naismith and his team immediately set about the task of bouncing back from their first defeat of the season at Manchester City two weeks ago, going ahead as early as the eighth minute.

A short corner exchange between Leighton Baines and Leon Osman ended with the latter feeding Kevin Mirallas 25 yards from goal and though his low shot seemed to lack sufficient pace to Alan McGregor in the Hull goal from that distance, the ball crept inside the post.

Coming into the game a place a and a point below the Blues, Hull had looked unfazed in the early going and were causing Everton plenty of problems in the air at set pieces.

Their equaliser came from impressive work down the right by Aluko, though, as he powered to the byline and centred through Baines' legs where Yannick Sagbo, an early substitute for the injured Danny Graham, was on hand to rifle home unimpeded from 10 yards out with half an hour gone.

The pattern of play established in the first half continued into the second but Everton had failed to really open Steve Bruce's side up until Osman was removed in favour of Pienaar, making his first appearance for seven weeks following a hamstring injury.

Ross Barkley made a characteristically purposeful forward run, fed Mirallas and his first-time centre picked out Pienaar to slip the ball home with his first touch and restore Everton's lead.

Arouna Kone replaced the tiring Romelu Lukaku with 23 minutes left and he was presented with a gilt-edged chance to score his first Everton goal but, at the end of a quick-fire attack, the Ivorian somehow contrived to smack the ball off the post with just the 'keeper to beat.

A second chance opened up for him less than a minute later but McGregor foiled him with a good one-handed save.

Everton saw out the remaining quarter of an hour in relative comfort, recording their third home win of the campaign and moving temporarily into fifth place in the table.

Roberto Martinez was pleased that Pienaar, a surprise inclusion after recovering from a hamstring injury, was able to play such a decisive part in a vital victory.

"We were all delighted that Stevie was able to play today," the manager said after the game. "It's been a frustrating time for everyone because the injury kept him sidelined.

"He seemed desperate to play a part, desperate to be involved and his first touch was a reflection of what he is - someone who can give you that little bit of magic that you sometimes need to win.

"It was pleasing to see him do that and it's great to have him available to help the team again."

As expected, the Tigers proved to be no pushovers and Martinez acknowledged the challenge they posed to his team throughout.

"Hull have had a really good start to the season. They are confident and you could see they were full of energy.

"They were pressing us really high up, trying to stop us from playing and we found it very difficult. But in those situations it's important that you are professional enough and clever enough to find a way to win."

The Blues' match-winner hero was typically modest after the game, describing his goal to evertontv as "a lucky touch," but he was clearly pleased to be back playing after his injury layoff.

The midfielder also explained his unique celebration, saying that the upside-down South African flag draped over the advertising hoardings had been annoying him ever since he'd taken his seat on the bench and he took the opportunity to correct it rather than his customary lifting of the jersey to display his "God is Great" t-shirt.

 

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