Martinez beams as Toffees in the mix

Aston Villa 0 Everton 2

While Martinez’s predecessor David Moyes has laboured in his new post at Manchester United, Martinez has slotted in seamlessly at Goodison Park and already given the Toffees a brand of football more easy on the eye.

Even by the high standards set by Moyes, 18 points from their opening nine matches is an excellent start to the campaign and, should they continue in that vain, they could prove the dark horses as far as a Champions League spot is concerned.

“The points tally is a very good one,” Martinez said. “The performances have been very good. They are a really strong unit, have been successful over the years and it was important to keep that.”

This contest is the most-played fixture in the English top flight and, watched from the stands by England manager Roy Hodgson, was played on the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.

But it was two Belgians and two Americans who took top billing. Lukaku scored his fifth of the campaign at Villa Park — yet it did not arrive until his fellow beefy Belgian, Christian Benteke, squandered chances of his own.

The Toffees had goalkeeper Tim Howard to thank when he superbly saved Benteke’s eighth-minute penalty after the striker had been upended by Coleman.

“It would have left us with a mountain to climb if Benteke scored,” said Leon Osman, scorer of the Toffees’ second. “It was a game-changing moment. It could have been completely different. But that’s what Tim is capable of.”

Benteke, making his first start since recovering from a hip injury, saw the American goalkeeper tip his spot kick over the crossbar and Howard denied him again soon afterwards from a one-on-one.

“For him to get a full game under his belt was pleasing,” Lambert said.

“I’m pretty sure on another days when he gets sharper he will score. He will be disappointed not to score the penalty. He’s been here over a year and it’s probably the first time he’ll have thought he should have scored.”

Finally, Everton clicked into gear and it took a world-class stop from Villa’s own American, Brad Guzan, to keep out Lukaku’s bullet header.

Another warning shot was fired by the Toffees when Ross Barkley’s deflected strike looped onto the crossbar. The introduction of Osman on the hour was the game’s turning point. Within eight minutes a goal arrived.

Lukaku struck a crisp, low shot into the bottom corner after Osman had squared the play to him on the edge of the area. Then Osman bagged one for himself 13 minutes later from 20 yards after good work from ex-Villan Gareth Barry.

Paul Lambert’s team have collected just three points from a possible 15 at home — something they will have to improve to avoid a relegation scrap. “We seem to be doing it the other way around,” Lambert said. “But the crowd are with us all the time. It is up to us to turn it around.

ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Guzan 8; Bacuna 6, Vlaar 6, Baker 6, Luna 6 (Clark 45, 6); Tonev 6 (Helenius 77), Westwood 5, Delph 7; Agbonlahor 6, Benteke 7, Weimann 6.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard 9; Coleman 7, Jagielka 7, Distin 7, Baines 8; McCarthy 7, Barry 7; Mirallas 7 (Deulofeu 89), Barkley 5 (Osman 60, 8), Pienaar 6 (Naismith 80); Lukaku 8.

Ref: Anthony Taylor.