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Everton cemented their place in the top six as goals from Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta condemned Hull City to their fourth successive league defeat.

The hosts dominated from the outset but Fellaini’s opener, a close-range header from Leighton Baines’s cross, should have been ruled out for offside.

Arteta troubled Hull all afternoon and he made it two with a spectacular free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

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Hull never threatened a fightback as Everton easily held their lead.

The win moves David Moyes’s side seven points clear of seventh-place Wigan, who play on Sunday, and they remain three points behind Arsenal in fifth.

Everton have kept clean sheets in each of their last five league games, taking 13 points from the last 15 available.

Hull, on the other hand, have won just one of their last 12 games and are without a point since drawing with Liverpool on 13 December.

Manager Phil Brown will be furious that Fellaini’s goal was allowed to stand but could have no complaints at the result given Everton’s superiority.

Brown’s men worked hard but were outclassed by an Everton side who started brightly and probed tirelessly for a breakthrough.

THIS SEASON’S REVERSE FIXTURE

Hull City 2-2 Everton

21 September 2008 – Ref: Lee Mason
Hull scorers: Turner 18, Neville 50 og
Everton scorers: Cahill 73, Osman 78