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Everton maintained their faint hopes of fourth place with a hard fought victory over relegated Derby at Goodison.

Click Here To Watch First half Highlights

Click Here To Watch First half Highlights

Yakubu stabbed over a gaping goal in the best chance of a poor first half which left the home fans frustrated. Derby continued to scrap and a stinging David Jones drive from 25 yards forced a fine save from Everton’s Tim Howard. But Leon Osman found space to collect a Manuel Fernandes pass and thump the winner, though Everton’s lack of a second ensured them of a tense finale. The omens were not good for Derby, already relegated and desperately trying to scrape another five points to pass the Premiership’s lowest points tally of 15, held by Sunderland. Everton had conceded only five goals previously in 2008 and had seven clean sheets.