EVERTON ended a difficult week on a triumphant high with a stirring 2-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at Goodison Park.

David Moyes’s side had to contend with plenty of deserved criticism after their shocking FA Cup quarter final exit last weekend, but they responded in superb fashion with a display full of passion and commitment.

The result lifted the Blues to fifth in the table, a point above Arsenal for the time being, and more importantly went a long way to soothing wounded pride on the blue half of Merseyside.

Right from the onset it was a vastly different tempo from the previous fixture.

Marouane Fellaini was clearly fired-up to atone for his abysmal display, but he was in danger of allowing that genuine intent to get him sent off. He was lucky to only see yellow for a late, scything tackle on James Milner in front of the Bullens Road, where his melt-down had occurred last week

Still, his drive was indicative of a determined spirit in the Blues camp, as they started on the front-foot, forcing their visitors into conceding a string of set-pieces in dangerous areas, and giving Joe Hart plenty to keep him occupied.

Indeed Everton were unjustly denied the lead just after 10 minutes, when Leon Osman headed the ball back into the City area and Kevin Mirallas fired home. The linesman’s flag punctured the Belgian’s celebrations but replays showed he had been played onside by Aleksandar Kolarov.

The play had almost exclusively been in the Champions’ half, and it took them almost 25 minutes to even get a shot on target at Jan Mucha; as Carlos Tevez skipped into the area and tested the Slovakian. Then his strike partner Edin Dzeko also forced the Everton stand-on goalkeeper into action, albeit a routine save from a hopeful effort.

The hosts’ fiery start led to another booking, this time for Steven Pienaar who was late on Gareth Barry. Then Probert evened it up, after ignoring some retribution by the England midfielder, and showing Kolarov yellow for a tussle with Leon Osman.

Both Everton fullbacks had been finding dangerous positions, put Seamus Coleman appeared to be stuck in tow minds as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area. However the Irishman spotted Osman asking for it about 25 yards out and found him, only for the stand-in skipper to score with an expertly struck, swerving drive.

The goal only served to further galvanise the Toffees, as Coleman again proved a nuisance – this time linking up with the superb Darron Gibson who in turn fed Victor Anichebe, and the Nigerian striker hooked his effort narrowly over the bar.

Everton were unrecognisable from the meek side who limped apologetically in at the break last Saturday, and with their opponents poor they looked likely to double their lead at any time.

This time they were applauded off the pitch the break

The desire and hunger to make amends was still palpable after the break. Anichebe had to briefly go off for treatment to a head injury but the striker couldn’t wait to get back on.

But Everton had to be a little more defensively robust by that point, as City belatedly began to threaten.

They remained a threat though, with Osman firing over from a corner. Everton’s abrasive approach was effective but always liable to cost them, and so it proved when Pienaar got his marching orders. The South African was late again with a studs-up lunge on Javi Garcia, and even though the Spaniard made the most of it, Probert’s decision was inevitable.

It rallied the visitors. First Mucha denied James Milner with a smart reflex save, and then Pablo Zabaleta curled an effort over the bar as Mancini’s men stepped up a gear.

But even though reduced to 10, Everton still threatened with Osman continually a threat, and Mirallas curling a shot at Hart.

Pineaar’s absence created a conundrum for Moyes, who responded by replacing Mirallas with Steven Naismith; presumably to facilitate Fellaini’s switch to a defensive midfield role.

Still Everton maintained a threat, with Sylvain Distin heading narrowly over from another corner. Then Mucha was on hand to make another brave stop, this time throwing himself in front of Zabaleta at point blank range as the City captain shaped to shoot.

By then Goodison was in full bear-pit mode, with every perceived injustice only cranking up the volume higher. It was that sort of afternoon.

It was the away dugout which was entitled to feel hard done by near the end though, as Fellaini appeared to block Tevez’s shot in the area with his arm, but Probert awarded a free kick instead for handling by John Heitinga outside the box instead.

Everton had to defend robustly as the clock ticked down, but did it manfully and there was to be one final thrilling moment.

Fellaini charged forward on the counter attack with City committed upfield, and slipped it to late sub Nikica Jelavic, who confidently scored his first league goal in 14 appearances.

It might have gone in off City defender Gael Clichy but Jelavic won’t care – it could be the moment that revives him and his club in the most timely fashion.

EVERTON: (4-4-1-1) Mucha, Coleman, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Osman (Capt), Gibson, Mirallas, (Naismith, 69), Pienaar, Fellaini, Anichebe (Jelavic, 90).

Subs not used: Springthorpe, Oviedo, Neville, Barkley, Duffy.

Bookings: Fellaini, Pienaar (yellow x 2, red), Osman, Jelavic.

Goals: Osman (32)

MANCHESTER CITY: (4-4-1-1) Hart, Zabaleta (Capt), Nastasic, Toure (Sinclair, 83), Kolarov, Garcia, Barry (Nasri, 69), Silva, Milner (Clichy, 83), Dzeko, Tevez.

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Lescott, Razak, Lopes.

Bookings: Kolarov, Dzeko, Silva

Goals:

Attendance: 36,519

Referee: Lee Probert.