EPL: Everton v Middlesbrough (30.09)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Everton's big-money buy Yakubu Aiyegbeni faces his former club Middlesbrough, who have received a major injury boost for the live Sky Sports 1 encounter.

David Moyes' side have lost their last two Premier League matches without scoring a goal, but secured a 3-0 success over Sheffield Wednesday in the Carling Cup in midweek.

The Everton boss may have to make changes to his team after Tony Hibbert and Nuno Valente picked up knocks.

Hibbert suffered a groin strain, and Valente hurt his foot, with both rated doubtful for the match.

Leighton Baines is likely to replace Valente at left-back in any case, while Phil Neville could fill at right-back for Hibbert.

Alan Stubbs impressed at centre-half in the absence of the ill Joseph Yobo and could keep his place.

James McFadden will hope his double against The Owls will secure his spot in the team ahead of Andy Johnson, who is still without a goal this season.

But Yakubu, who cost Everton a club record fee from Boro in August, seems certain to start against his old side, despite early concerns about his work-rate.

Tim Howard is still recovering from a broken finger, so Stefan Wessels will be in goal, while Mikel Arteta has an ankle injury.

Boro quartet return

Boro are expected to welcome back four players who sat out the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup.

Gary O'Neil was cup-tied, having already played in the competition for Portsmouth, so is available to return in midfield.

Mido, Tuncay Sanli and Jonathan Woodgate should also be in contention after overcoming minor injuries.

Both Mido and Tuncay were suffering from hamstring trouble, but will be back to increase Gareth Southgate's attacking options.

Southgate could select the duo against Everton, with Jeremie Aliadiere injured and Lee Dong-gook still to impress in English football.

Woodgate has shaken off a groin complaint and he will be back to add experience to the centre of Boro's defence.

Julio Arca is out for two months with a knee injury, while Mark Schwarzer should return in goal at the expense of Brad Jones.

Skysports

[kyan]

Everton got lucky Middlesbrough wasted so much, although I guess it could be said that Everton were clinical enough to make Boro pay, and even so I'd say Everton deserved their win.

Arteta... what a special player, week in week out, if he doesn't play Everton struggle and he showed why yet again today, puts in the corner for the first goal (which led to Lescott scoring a great header - Everton's top scorer this season), and his pass to Pienaar for the 2nd goal was incredible, as was the link-up play between the 2 preceeding Pienaar's first goal in 2 year (and first for Everton).

van der Meyde didn't come on although he was included in the squad.

Boro could be in big trouble if their strikers don't get fit soon.

[Evertonscouser]

Arteta shown again why he's far too good for us. As Kyan said we don't turn up at all when Artetas not playing. Pienaar looked good today, and Hibbert had a good game, compared to how he's played recently, and exectly the opposite for Jagielka who had a really poor game, but has been on top form recently.

Yakubu is embarrasing to be honest.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Toffees triumph over Boro

Middlesbrough's miserable run at Goodison Park continued as they crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Everton.

Joleon Lescott and Steven Pienaar handed Everton the victory and ensured Boro's seven-year run without a league win at the home of The Toffees continues.

Lescott headed in after seven minutes when a Mikel Arteta corner caused havoc in the Boro box and, as Jonathan Woodgate and David Wheater collided in their scrambled attempts to clear, the centre-back calmly converted.

Middlesbrough - George Boateng, Gary O'Neil and Dong-Gook Lee in particular - were guilty of missing gift-wrapped chances in the early phases, while Everton were unfortunate not to double their lead when former Boro boy Yakubu Aiyegbeni headed over.

Boro then dominated the opening exchanges of the second 45 minutes, but Pienaar prodded home his first Everton goal 13 minutes after the interval having been wonderfully set up by Arteta.

Middlesbrough threw centre-back Wheater up front in an attempt to fight their way back into the game, but Everton comfortably held on for the points and move up to fifth in the Premier League.

Inspired

Arteta, who inspired Everton all afternoon, was one of five changes to the Toffees side beaten 2-0 at Villa Park last weekend, with Yakubu also given the nod to start against his former side.

Boro, who lacked an influential force such as Arteta, made two changes from their last Premier League outing, recalled skipper Boateng and Lee for the injured Julio Arca and Tuncay Sanli.

Without a home win since the opening-day victory against Wigan and deprived of the misfiring Andrew Johnson (groin), Everton were looking to bounce back from two straight league defeats.

Boro were also struggling for form, having not won in their last three in all competitions.

It did not take long for the scoring to begin when Lescott nodded in, but five minutes later Boro wasted a glorious opportunity to level.

Mido headed a cross down to the unmarked O'Neil, who had time to steady himself but still scuffed his finish straight at Tim Howard in the Everton goal.

Guilty

Both sides were then guilty of glaring headed misses, Yakubu first when he somehow sent over a pinpoint Leighton Baines cross following a clever corner routine.

Lee followed when his effort from O'Neil's centre cannoned off the crossbar.

Yakubu, who was desperate to find the back of the net against his former employers, then volleyed a snapshot straight down Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer's throat.

Schwarzer had to be more alert to clasp a deflected drive by the excellent Arteta shortly after.

McFadden then tested Schwarzer again from Baines' centre but his aerial effort lacked any power.

That sparked Everton's most dominant spell of first half but their finishing continued to leave something to be desired.

Beautiful

Boateng added his name to the growing list of poor headers after the break when he mistimed his jump for Stewart Downing's corner.

Lee again demonstrated why he had failed to find the net in 14 previous league appearances by volleying well wide.

Moments later Boro fell two behind when Pienaar robbed Boateng before feeding Arteta who returned with a beautifully disguised pass allowing his team-mate to hit home.

A raft of substitutions followed, Boro boss Gareth Southgate perhaps sending a message to both Mido and Lee by withdrawing both and deploying Wheater as a makeshift centre-forward.

It had little effect, with opposite number David Moyes afforded the luxury in stoppage-time of bringing off Arteta to a richly-deserved standing ovation.

Skysports