Everton eased to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Goodison Park to pick up just their second Premier League win of the season.
The hosts were up an running with 18 minutes on the clock courtesy of Phil Jagielka's powerful header, while Romelu Lukaku doubled his side's advantage shortly after the interval.
Seamus Coleman put the game beyond doubt with his close-range effort with a quarter of an hour still to play, as Villa sank to their fourth-successive defeat.
Read how the game unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Everton and Aston Villa at Goodison Park. The international break is finally over, and after a two-week hiatus attention now turns back to domestic action.
As ever today's game has plenty riding on it, with two sides who have made contrasting starts to the season coming up against one another. There's plenty to get through between now and kickoff at 3pm, so let's start by taking a look at how the teams line up this afternoon...
TEAM NEWS!
EVERTON STARTING XI: Howard, Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Barry, McCarthy, Barkley, Naismith, Osman, Lukaku
ASTON VILLA STARTING XI: Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Baker, Cissokho, Westwood, Cleverley, Richardson, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Benteke
The big news for Everton is that England international Ross Barkley is fit enough to start having missed a large part of the season so far due to knee ligament damage. There's more good news for the hosts, as Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy - both injury doubts coming into this one - have passed fitness tests.
Kevin Mirallas and John Stones both miss out for the Toffees, meanwhile, although Steven Pienaar is among the substitutes. The inclusion of Barkley is a huge plus point for Martinez, though, with his drive in the middle of the park something that has been badly missed over the last few weeks.
Villa suffered a huge blow on the even of today's game after it emerged that midfielder Fabian Delph would require surgery on his shoulder. The England international will not miss up to the next two months of the season, although Villa do have the experience of Ron Vlaar at the back once more.
It's up front which will excite Villa supporters the most, however, as Christian Benteke makes a welcome return to the fold having missed a large part of the year through injury. Tom Cleverley starts in the middle once more, meanwhile, against a side reportedly interested in signing him just a couple of months ago.
BENCH WATCH!
EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Robles, Hibbert, Gibson, Besic, Pienaar, McGeady, Eto'o
ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTES: Given, Clark, Weimann, Cole, Bent, Sanchez, Lowton
As well as having Pienar among their backups, Everton can also call on Samuel Eto'o and Aiden McGeady among others if needed, while Mohamed Besic offers a more defensive option. In terms of the visiting side's substitutes, Andreas Weimann and Darren Bent will be keen to make an impact if called upon at Goodison Park in what promises to be an entertaining clash.
Well Everton come into this game in their lowest league position for almost three years, sitting in 17th place with just one win to their name so far this campaign. It is clear to see where the Toffees have gone wrong, with the side failing to score enough goals and conceding far too many at the opposite end. It sounds simple, but Martinez must get his group of players back into a similar shape that we saw last season, and the wins will surely start coming.
The Merseyside outfit are also without a home win so far this season, yet they come up against a Villa side today that they simply love playing against. In fact, Everton have lost just one of their last 11 meetings against the Villans, although it should be said that five of the last seven clashes at Goodison Park have ended in a draw. That will not be good enough today for the home side, you feel.
It would be fair to say that Villa have had a far more enjoyable campaign so far, making their best start to a Premier League campaign before tailing off slightly following a tough run of fixtures. 'Tough' is probably not the right word, in fact, as Paul Lambert's men today face one of last season's top-five sides for the fifth-successive game.
Victory against Liverpool proved to be the peak, for now at least, with three-straight defeats following close by ahead of the international break. Ten points from 10 games is by no means a bad return, though, and the visitors will no doubt come into this game confident that they can repeat their heroics from across Stanley Park earlier this season and return home with all three points, just like they did in their 1-0 win at Anfield.
This is a fixture with plenty of history...
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: I've already touched on Everton's impressive record in this fixture in recent times, which was highlighted last season when the Toffees pulled off an impressive double over their opponents. They had to battle back from a goal down at home, though, although goals from Steven Naismith and Kevin Mirallas rescued the points late on.
DID YOU KNOW? All eyes may be on Benteke who is making his return this afternoon, although it's his strike Partner Gabriel Agbonlahor who will strike fear into the Everton back line. The Englishman has scored seven goals against the Toffees in his career, making them his favourite opposition to play against.
Although speaking of goals, Villa have struggled in that department of late, failing to find the net in their last three outings. Even more worrying is the fact that Lambert's charges so often fail to test the opposition keeper, which will surely have to change this afternoon. The return of Benteke, as well as the aforementioned goal-scoring rate of Agbonlahor against Everton, should help them rectify that particular issue.
Kickoff at Goodison Park is now less than 20 minutes away, but there is still time to check out what Sports Mole's On The Sofa team make of both sides' chances of success this afternoon...
PREDICTION! Well having weighed up the form of both teams heading into this game, you would expect it to be a tightly-contested battle on Merseyside this afternoon. The return of Barkley is a welcome addition to the Toffees' starting lineup, while Villa have themselves received a fitness boost with Benteke also starting for the first time this season. All-in-all I believe that the hosts will just about edge out their opponents 1-0 to kick-start their climb up the table.
Moving back to that point made a little earlier with regards to Everton's lack of goals this season, only one side (Burnley) has failed to score more goals than the Toffees so far this campaign. Five goals from their first seven games is a poor record; today would be a perfect time for Romelu Lukaku to find his goalscoring form once more.
Add to this the statistic that no side has conceded more goals than Everton's 16 so far this season, and you begin to paint a clear picture as to why they have struggled. A slow start to Martinez's second season in charge at Goodison Park can be turned around in no time, however, starting with a win against Villa today.
Villa have plenty of options to call upon from the bench if needed this afternoon...
Well the teams are now in the tunnel with kickoff just a few minutes away. It's another huge afternoon of Premier League action, with this one of the picks of the bunch. Everton are hoping to get their season truly up and running, while Villa are looking to turn around their recent drop in form.
KICKOFF! Everton get the action underway at Goodison Park in the 199th meeting between these two sides.
Everton are the side holding onto the ball at the moment, with Villa dropping deep to close up any gaps. The visitors are set up to counter-attack, so the Toffees will have to be wary of that attacking threat this afternoon.
Lukaku working the channels in these early stages as Everton continue to press up the field. Villa staying nice and compact and keeping their shape at the moment.
SHOT! The first opening of the game falls to the home side, and it is a chance created by Baines down the left. The full-back managed to pick out Leon Osman inside the area, although his resulting shot was well blocked. Barkley latched onto the rebound on the edge of the box but blasted well over.
YELLOW CARD! Barkley has been impressive in the opening seven minutes or so, using his pace and power to drive his side forward. He forces a foul out of Kieran Richardson on the edge of the box which leaves the referee with no choice but to book the Villa man.
Lukaku very nearly got in around the back of Villa's back line then, taking down a long ball played over the top by Baines, although he couldn't quite control the ball and Brad Guzan collected.
Villa have struggled to get forward so far, and when they did finally manage to get beyond the halfway line, Benteke was disposed. Having soaked up so more pressure the visitors broke once more, although they couldn't find a way through after working the ball into both channels.
Cleverley almost picks out Benteke in the middle of the box with his cross from the right, although he put a little too much on the ball as it sailed over the Belgium international's head. Far better from Villa in the last few minutes.
Ashley Westwood is doing well to keep the ball ticking over at the moment, as Villa continue their decent spell. They haven't created any openings as of yet, but they are looking to work the ball out wide before finding Benteke in the middle.
SHOT! Cleverley takes fire from range, although his strike from around 25 yards out was hit right at Tim Howard.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 ASTON VILLA (JAGIELKA)
Everton make the breakthrough at Goodison Park through Phil Jagielka. The hosts won a corner which they opted to take short, before Baines worked some space to swing an inch-perfect cross into the box which Jagielka headed home from close range. Villa will feel a little hard done by, although the Toffees have certainly looked more dangerous when pushing forward so far.
That corner came about after Guzan produced a fine stop to keep out Barkley's driven strike. The midfielder has looked more than lively on his return to action thus far.
SHOT! Villa go in search of an equaliser, although they fail to capitalise on a corner of their own with Richardson shooting well wide of goal with his long-range attempt. Everton push forward themselves moments later, but Naismith fails to test Guzan with his shot.
Nathan Baker looks in a bit of pain at the moment following an innocuous challenge. Ciaran Clark may have to be introduced here.
ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTION As expected Baker is unable to continue, with Clark coming on for his third league appearance this season.
CLOSE! Alan Hutton comes within a few inches of bagging his first goal in four years with a near-perfect strike. Having cut in from the right the Scotland international curled the ball with his left foot from the edge of the box, but it didn't quite have enough bend on it to find the target.
Lukaku has struggled to get up to the tempo of the game so far, it must be said, although you would still back him to find the net whenever he is on the field. At the other end of the pitch Benteke was almost picked out by Cleverley, although Jagielka managed to get to the ball first to head it behind. Good spell of pressure from Villa.
For all of Villa's pressure they have yet to really test Howard, which is a similar story to a lot of their games this season. Everton look far more dangerous in attack, particularly when Baines surges forward, and after the full-back picked out Naismith the Scotland international managed to get a shot away which was well blocked.
Villa spring a strong looking counter-attack through Hutton's powerful charge down the right, and the full-back does well to cut inside and play in Cleverley. The former Manchester United man was denied a chance to get his shot away inside the box, though, thanks to a brilliant challenge from McCarthy.
YELLOW CARD! Agbonlahor becomes the second Villa player to enter the referee's book this afternoon after chopping down Baines.
SAVE! Some brilliant play from Everton culminates in Osman finding the ball at his feet inside the opposition box, although instead of getting a shot away he opts to take another touch which proved costly as the ball was soon won back. Villa failed to fully clear their lines, however, and Guzan was forced into making a great stop to deny Coleman after the full-back was given a sight of goal.
Everton have looked really impressive at times this afternoon, while Villa seem to only trouble their opponents when they spring counter-attacks. The visitors need to test Howard far more in the second half.
Jagielka's goal the difference as we approach half time...
Villa have been camped in their own half for the last 10 minutes or so - they will welcome the referee's whistle right now. Lambert has 15 minutes to change things around slightly at the interval, because Everton are looking the far better team.
The Villans stage a rare attack, although once more nothing really comes of the move. Everton controlling things as we enter the second of three minutes of added on time at the end of the first half.
It's all been very quiet since that Coleman effort six minutes ago, although Everton have won a corner with 30 seconds remaining of the half...
HALF TIME: EVERTON 1-0 ASTON VILLA
The corner kick is headed away from danger, signalling the end of the first 45 minutes. It has been a solid half from the home side, who took the lead through Jagielka's headed goal on 18 minutes, while Villa have struggled to create any real openings thus far.
MATCH STATS! Everton had considerably more of the ball in the first half with 65% of possession. Villa have managed to test Howard on one occasion, while the hosts have had three shots on target, one of which led to the game's opening goal.
While Villa boss Paul Lambert is unlikely to make any changes at the interval, you would expect him to change his side slightly in terms of formation. They looked solid and compact at the back early on, although ever since Everton found the opening goal the hosts have looked very dangerous when pushing forward. The Villans, on the other hand, have only looked likely to score when hitting their opponents on the break.
SECOND HALF! Here we go again, as Villa get the game back underway. No changes for either side at the break.
Agbonlahor uses his strength to burst past a few Everton players, although he is eventually disposed in possession by Coleman on the edge of the box. He had a very quiet first half, but that's a positive start to the second 45 minutes from the striker.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-0 ASTON VILLA (LUKAKU)
Lukaku finds the back of the net to give his side some breathing space. Barkley played his teammate in, although the Belgium international initially looked to have the ball stuck at his feet. He did manage to get a shot in at goal, though, which was struck hard and low with the ball creeping through Guzan. That's a howler from the visiting keeper.
You have to say, Everton are good value for a two-goal lead this afternoon. Villa have no choice but to push forward now which could open up some gaps at the back.
Surely it won't be too long before Lambert makes a second change...
Benteke thought that he had given Villa a lifeline after finding the net, but the referee had already blown his whistle for an earlier infringement. Positive signs from the visitors nonetheless.
Villa are pushing far higher up the field now, leaving some gaps for Everton to exploit at the back. Osman very nearly makes the most of one of the openings, only for his attempted through-ball to be well cut out.
SHOT! Everton continuing to dictate the tempo of the game, just patently knocking it around before slowly moving up the field. Osman tries his luck from range with a curling effort, although Guzan was on hand to collect the shot.
Agbonlahor swings an inviting cross into the direction of Benteke, but the ball is headed away. Villa have enjoyed a couple of minutes on the ball, yet created no real chances.
ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTE! Weimann replaces Charles N'Zogbia as the Villans look for a change of approach.
EVERTON SUBSTITUTION! Perhaps unsurprisingly, Barkley has been replaced having looked very sharp on his return to the first team. Pienaar is the man to come on in his place.
That second goal has taken the sting out of this game, and in truth the last 10 minutes or so has been very bland. It's somewhat surprising that Villa are not throwing everything they have at Villa.
Naismith very nearly latches onto the ball inside the box, although a great covering challenge from Vlaar sees the danger thwarted. Lukaku pushed forward moments later and his run was only halted by Clark's foul, although Everton failed to make the most of the free kick in a dangerous position.
Remember, this is an Everton side with the worst defensive record in the league this season, yet they have not been at all troubled by Villa.
Westwood swings a brilliant delivery into the box from a free kick, and Weimann looks to have got the slightest of touches on the ball with his head, although it was not enough contact to guide it beyond Howard.
Far more pressure being put on Everton now, and Howard is forced to punch away Richardson's dangerous cross. A goal from Lambert's charges would really change the complex of this game.
GOAL! EVERTON 3-0 ASTON VILLA (COLEMAN)
Well if it wasn't already over then it sure is now. Everton's two full-backs combine to put the game beyond Villa's reach with a third goal. Baines managed to pick out Coleman's run with another inch-perfect cross, and the Irishman got his foot to the ball to divert it beyond Guzan from a few yards out.
Everton just seeing out the game in a professional manner. This will be just their second win of the campaign, while Villa are heading the wrong way down the table. It's been a decent showing from the hosts, but so, so frustrating for the Villans who have not shown any conviction in front of goal.
SAVE! Howard is called into action to deny Agbonlahor's strike, making a solid stop to frustrate the striker once more. He has had a quiet afternoon, but a lot of that is down to a lack of service into his path.
ASTON VILLA SUBSTITUTION: Benteke lasted over 80 minutes on his comeback from a length injury, which is one positive for Villa. Joe Cole is the man who has come on in his place.
EVERTON SUBSTITUTION! Naismith has put in a terrific shift this afternoon, and he receives a standing ovation as he leaves the field in place of Samuel Eto'o.
The target for Everton in these final few minutes is to keep a rare clean sheet. It would be a huge psychological blow if they were to concede a needless goal.
Three minutes left to play at Goodison Park, although in truth the game was essentially put to bed when Lukaku made it 2-0 shortly after the restart.
EVERTON SUBSTITUTION! Speaking of Lukaku, his afternoon is now over with Darron Gibson being given a couple of minutes on the field.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 3-0 ASTON VILLA
Referee Anthony Taylor puts Villa out of their misery, blowing for full time at Goodison Park. It was a good all-round performance from Everton who were good value for their 3-0 victory, while the Villans have now suffered four defeats on the bounce.
Well that's all from me for now, but stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you an in-depth match analysis, player ratings and all the reaction from Goodison Park.
