Steve Bennett brings the game to a close with Everton leaving comfortable winners against a poor Derby side who never threatened.

The fourth official indicates there will be three minutes of added time.

Howard lays off the ball for Earnshaw who strikes it from 25-yards but its another poor effort, the ball bobbling wide.

Tim Cahill comes off and James McFadden makes an appearance.

Arteta tries his luck with a freekick from thirty yards out and manages to bend it over the wall but the ball can't come down quick enough as is floats a yard over the bar.

The Derby fans are leaving already and who can blame them after this performance, Derby have been outclassed for most of the game.

Victor Anichebe comes on to replace the goalscorer Ayegbeni Yakubu.

David Jones comes on to replace Kenny Miller who limps off.

Pienaar traps the ball brilliantly before stepping past Mears and sliding the ball across the face of goal for Cahill but a strong challenge from Davis takes the ball away from danger.

Barnes tries his luck from long range again, sending the ball low past the post from 30 yards, much to the anger of Earnshaw who feels he should have slipped the ball through for the Welsh forward.

McEveley's freekick is a poor one, striking the wall, but Barnes' follow-up shot takes a couple of deflections before whistling just wide of Howards post.

Arteta swings in a high corner fro the left and again finds Yobo who is deemed to have pushed Davis and gives away the freekick.

Yakubu doubles Everton's lead after latching onto Pienaars brilliant through ball, again cutting the Derby defence in half, Yakubu hammering the ball home from inside the penalty area.

Billy Davies throws on another striker with Steven Howard coming on and Craig Fagan coming off

Fagan produces what is an awful cross after some nice build-up play, the cross only finding its way into the crowd.

Eddie Lewis is brought off and on comes Robert Earnshaw.

Sarcastic cheers from the Everton fans as Yakubu finally makes a tackle, the £11million man has looked very lazy today.

Yakubu smashes a high ball into the penalty area looking for a blue shirt but its a bad ball and Bywater can claim easily.

Arteta's corner finds Yobo unmarked at the near post who powers his header at goal but sends it just inches wide of the Derby goal.

Yakubu slips in Pienaar wide on the right who tries to slip the ball across the face of goal but its dealt with by Moore who knocks it behind.

Leighton Baines doesn't return from the tunnel at half time and is replaced by Alan Stubbs

Derby get the second half under way looking for some way to break down this solid Everton back line.

Everton take a deserved lead into the break after a reasonably uneventful first half, Derby failing to create much as Everton continue to look to grind out this win.

The fourth official indicates there will be two minutes of added on time.

Darren Moore loses the ball and then clatters Baines with a late tackle.

Pienaar floats a high ball into the penalty area looking for Cahill at the far post but again its another poor header from Cahill, sending it behind for a goal kick.

Barnes shows another nice bit of creativity to get behind the Everton defence but there is just too much on his own ball and Barnes can't keep it in before the cross.

Pienaar turns away from one Derby defender before trying his luck from out on the right but its an awful effort, Piennar slicing the ball out towards the corner flag.

Miller lays the ball off for Pearson who strikes it from 25 yards forcing Howard into his first save of the match, the American keeper saving and holding well to his right.

Everton are easily the better side, Derby's passing is poor and the Toffees one touch football is slicing the Rams apart.

Fagan recievers the ball out wide and tries to pick out a white shirt in the penalty area but its another poor ball into the box and Howard can claim easily.

Barnes, the bright spark for Derby so far, whips in a cross towards the near post for Miller but its just cut out by Yobo.

Mikel Arteta gives Everton the lead after latching onto a through ball which fooled the Derby defence a left Arteta one-on-one with Bywater, the Toffees playmaker slipping it under the goalkeeper to give them the lead.

Cahill floats in a cross field ball toYakubu who flicks it on for Pienaar to chase and the midfielder beats Bywater to the ball but is heading away from goal and by the time he gets the cross back in Bywater is pack in position and Pearson can clear.

Lewis and Fagan combine well to release Mears into the Everton penalty area but the defender slips as he looks up and the chance goes begging.

McEveley swings a freekick into a crowded Everton penalty area, the delivery is poor though as Cahill heads it away.

Carsley finds himself out wide and whips in a cross towards goal and picks out Cahill six yards from goal but the Australian midfielder misses a glorious chance sending his header wide.

Lewis whips in the freekick towards the far post but its dealt with no once but twice by Lescott with two headers to finally get the ball clear.

Phil Jagielka gets himself an early booking after choping down Barnes who had spun away from the Everton defender.

Barnes does well to turn and flick the ball to Lewis out wide who tries to send a cross towards the near post but its a bad ball and goes behind for a goal kick.

Jagielka gets himself forward and tries to pick out Yakubu but its an easy one for Bywater to cut out as the Everton attack breaks down.

Referee Steve Bennett blows his whistle and gets the game underway here at Pride Park, Everton taking the kick-off

Everton XI: Howard, Jagielka, Lescott, Yobo, Baines, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Carsley, Pienaar, Yakubu

Everton welcome back Tim Cahill for his first start in the Premier League but the Toffees are without Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert through suspension and Andy Johnsen with an ankle injury.

Derby XI: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, McEveley, Fagan, Oakley, Pearson, Lewis, Miller, Barnes

Derby are without Andy Todd who is out with a hamstring injury, while Dean Leacock is only fit enough to be on the bench. Meanwhile Jay McEveley is back after recovering from a neck injury.