Everton's bid for Champions League football next season received a huge boost when they emerged 2-0 winners over Manchester City in a hard fought contest on Monday.

Ayegbeni Yakubu slammed home his 16th goal of the season to put Everton ahead in the 30th minute. The visitors doubled the lead in the 38th minute through Joleon Lescott and Everton were happy to spend the second half on the defensive and frustrated City time and again as the hosts tried to scratch their way back into the game.

Everton came out determined to maintain their position in the top four and were on the attack right from the start when Yakubu latched on to Steve Pienaar's cross and though he managed to beat Joe Hart, his weak shot was cleared off the line by Richard Dunne.

The visitors were unlucky to have had a penalty appeal turned down midway through the half when Tim Cahill's shot struck Micah Richards on the elbow but the referee waved for the play to continue. City were struggling to create any meaningful chances and Everton almost took the lead through Pienaar but his dipping shot struck against the post.

Everton finally took the lead in the 30th minute with Yakubu latching on to Cahill's cross before slotting the ball past Hart. The visitors continued to exert pressure on the City defense and doubled the lead eight minutes later with Lescott heading home Carsley's cross.

Manchester City tried to step up a gear in the second half but were unable to break down a stubborn Everton defense, with the visitors coming close to extending the lead through Phil Neville and Cahill. There was some late drama at the end when Martin Petrov received a red card for kicking out at Osman as Everton held firm to register a vital victory over their opponents.