Two goals in three minutes late in the first half gave Everton a 2-1 victory they scarcely deserved to lift them into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.
Steve Bruce paid tribute to goal hero Titus Bramble as Wigan Athletic moved out of the relegation zone with a superb draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
Aston Villa staged a second-half revival to claim a 2-1 win that ended Wigan's resurgence under new boss Steve Bruce and sent the Latics crashing back into the Premier League relegation zone.