ROYSTON Drenthe helped Everton secure a vital three points against Wigan with an injury time goal, as the Blues ran out 3-1 winners at Goodison.

The Dutch loan signing netted after a headed knock-down from fellow new-boy Denis Straqualursi to apply the gloss to a cagey overall performance.

Teenage striker Apostolos Vellios had already come from the bench in the second half to edge the Blues ahead with his first goal in a royal blue shirt.

The Greek 19-year-old had almost snatched a last-minute victory against Aston Villa last weekend, but was not to be denied again when he leapt highest to convert a Tony Hibbert cross in the 83rd minute

The Blues were good value for the win in the end, although they found it tough going at times against a motivated and resilient visiting side who gave them more than a few scares.

David Moyes had picked the same team which had started so brightly against Aston Villa, much to the chagrin of Louis Saha who used Twitter to emphasise his devastation at being omitted from the squad.

But the men who were included acquitted themselves well again. Jack Rodwell made another positive start, the 20-year-old used the ball intelligently throughout and was quick to try his luck at goal in the early stages.

The first chance came when Leighton Baines crossed for Seamus Coleman, and despite being unmarked at the far post the Irishman scuffed his header.

As against Aston Villa the Blues were dominating possession and crafting a succession of early chances.

But there was also very nearly an unpleasant shock. Marouane Fellaini dawdled then slipped in possession and gifted the ball to Franco Di Santo who raced through on goal, fortunately opting to shoot high and wide when Hugo Rodallega was far better placed to test Tim Howard.

The Blues’ initial vigour settled, although Leon Osman and Baines linked up delightfully to prevent Tim Cahill with an opportunity on the turn but the Aussie just about failed to get his strike on target.

That scare at the other end aside, Everton’s back four were coping comfortably with Wigan’s limited attacking threat. And Tony Hibbert was justifying his manager’s decision to keep him in the side at the expense of club captain Phil Neville, crossing well on the overlap and defending with his trademark solidity.

And a goal seemed certain when Hibbert combined nicely with Coleman, allowing the Irishman to drill low ball across goal that Fellaini connected with only to see his close range shot cleared.

Then recent frailties surfaced again, and it was Wigan who took the lead on half an hour.

Franco Di Santo was given too much time and space, then surged too easily past Osman and his shot across goal was deflected in by Hibbert’s lunge.

It

Fortunately Everton made quick amends. Cahill made a magnificent leap from a Baines corner to hit the bar, and Phil Jagielka reacted quickest to head home his first goal at Goodison in more than three years.

It could have been two seconds later when Baines’ free kick beat the wall but sneaked wide of the post.

Cahill was outstanding again. Winning free kicks, and winning headers he had no right to, the 31-year-old was leading the line faultlessly.

The second half saw Everton step it up as they attacked the Gwladys Street. Seamus Coleman’s wing play is evolving by the game, and he beat two Wigan defenders only to curl his shot agonisingly wide within moments of the re-start.

David Moyes quickly rewarded loan signing Royston Drenthe for his goal-scoring reserve team cameo on Tuesday with a further taste of the action, swapping him for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on 58 minutes.

The Blues had a chance to edge ahead when Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell hauled Cahill to the surface on the edge of his area, but Baines’ free kick was off target again.

Further chances came and went unconverted. So far, same old story. But then step forward Apostolos Vellios. Having started the move, he leapt to convert Hibbert’s cross and set Goodison rocking.

True to the topsy turvy nature of the nature, Wigan substitute David Jones almost instantly struck the bar at the other end, then the superb Hibbert blocked his follow-up.

And it was colourful Drenthe who wrapped things up when he finished coolly after seizing on Stracqualursi’s knock down deep in injury time.

The victory means Everton head into a tough run of league fixtures against Manchester City and Liverpool with their tails up.

EVERTON: (4-2-3-1) Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka (Capt), Baines, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov (Drenthe 58), Osman, Cahill (Stracqualursi, 83) Coleman (Vellios, 66).

Subs not used: Mucha, Heitinga, Neville, Barkley.

Bookings: Fellaini

Goals: Jagielka (32) Vellios (83) Drenthe (90 plus)

WIGAN: (4-2-3-1) Al-Habsi, McCarthy, Caldwell (Capt), Watson, Van Aanholt, Lopez, Figueroa, Rodallega (Maloney, 90), Di Santo, Moses, Gomez (Jones, 70).

Subs not used: Pollitt, Thomas, Crusat, McArthur, Sammon.

Bookings: Caldwell

Goals: Di Santo (30)

Ref: Peter Walton

Attendancw: 31, 576