Derby County 0 Everton 2:Ayegbeni Yakubu grabbed his second Premier League goal for Everton as David Moyes's men heaped more woe on struggling Derby in an uninspiring encounter at Pride Park yesterday.

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 the visitors after two straight defeats, it was another damning indictment of Derby's chances of avoiding relegation, which on this evidence are extremely slim.

With Derby showing next to nothing, Everton snatched the lead in the 26th minute with a swift counter-attack begun by Phil Jagielka's long ball forward from the halfway line.

Yakubu played a clever dummy that caught out the home defence and gifted Arteta a clear run on goal, the Spaniard taking full advantage with a low shot under Bywater.

The second goal came when Pienaar played a low ball into the box and dismal defending enabled Yakubu to skip through unchallenged and hit a low left-foot shot past Bywater.

The visitors proceeded to coast through the final half hour.