Everton maintained their hold on fourth spot in the Premier League with an impressive 3-1 win at home to Portsmouth.

Two goals from Yakubu Aiyegbeni either side of a Tim Cahill header saw the Toffees pick up all three points and made Jermain Defoe’s first-half strike nothing more than a consolation.

Yakubu won a free-kick straight from the kick-off, and when Steven Pienaar’s resulting set-piece was then helped into his path by Joseph Yobo the Nigerian made no mistake.

The Toffees then continued to dominate for the majority of the first period but were unable to build on their early breakthrough.

With just seven minutes of the first half remaining they were made to pay for their inability to add a second when Defoe pulled Pompey level.

Glen Johnson’s hopeful cross from the right curled dangerously in towards goal and the England striker beat the offside trap to get the slightest of touches to divert the ball past Tim Howard.

Yakubu’s hold-up play allowed Pienaar to deliver a cross from the left and Cahill was flying in behind Sol Campbell to power a header home from six yards.