Toffees move into fifth

Everton 2 Middlesbrough 0

Steven Pienaar scored his maiden goal in English football as Everton won at Goodison Park for the first time since the opening day of the season.

The on-loan South Africa midfielder found the net to seal this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League victory over Middlesbrough, after free-scoring defender Joleon Lescott continued his remarkable run with his fourth goal of the season.

The defender provided the strikers and midfielders on the pitch with a lesson in how to keep a header down, with both sides spurning clear chances to add to the tally.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate then replaced the second of his ineffective forwards when Lee came off for Chris Riggott, allowing David Wheater to play as a makeshift centre-forward.

Moyes responded again by sending on Joseph Yobo for McFadden as Everton began to play out time.

Then, in stoppage-time, Arteta was withdrawn to a richly-deserved standing ovation.