Ayegbeni Yakubu grabbed his second Barclays Premier League goal for Everton as the Merseysiders heaped more misery on struggling Derby in an uninspiring encounter at Pride Park.

Yakubu struck a low left-foot finish past Stephen Bywater in the 62nd minute to effectively wrap up victory for the visitors who had taken a 26th minute lead through Mikel Arteta.

Despite a first league start for teenage prospect Giles Barnes and a rare second half appearance from record signing Robert Earnshaw, the home side never threatened to claw their way back for a point.

While it was a refreshing win for David Moyes’s side after two straight defeats, it was another clear indication of Derby’s inability to compete at Premier League level.

Perhaps still buoyed by picking up their first away point at Fulham last time out and the sight of Barnes’s name on the teamsheet, there was cause for early optimism for the home fans.

Indeed, Tim Howard, the Everton goalkeeper, was called into action in the second minute to bravely pluck a Jay McEveley cross off the head of Craig Fagan.

But Arteta should have scored in the third minute when he was presented with a glorious opportunity from Leighton Baines’ left-wing cross but side-footed a poor effort straight at Stephen Bywater.

Two minutes later Baines cut into the opposing penalty area unchallenged and set up a chance for Steven Pienaar who mis-kicked in front of goal. Cahill was inches wide with a header when the ball was punted back into the box.

Everton took the lead in the 26th minute with a swift counter-attack begun by Phil Jagielka’s long ball forward from the half-way line. Yakubu fooled the defence with a clever dummy and gifted Arteta a clear run on goal, with the Spaniard taking full advantage with a shot under Bywater.

Derby responded with a low long-range shot from Stephen Pearson which was well saved by Howard but that proved their best chance of the first half.

It was business as usual after the break, with Joseph Yobo inches away from extending Everton’s lead in the 47th minute when he flashed a header from a Cahill corner just wide.

Billy Davies finally decided to introduce Earnshaw, his record signing, in the 57th minute in place of Eddie Lewis, only the second time in seven matches the £3.5 million summer buy from Norwich had been given a chance to impress.

Everton, though, extended their lead five minutes later, Pienaar playing a low ball into the area and Yakubu skipping through unchallenged before hitting a low left-foot shot past Bywater.