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Wolves 0-3 Everton: Beckford header, Neville, Bilyaletdinov superb-strike
Wolverhampton Wanderers remain in the Premier League relegation zone after they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Everton at Molineux.
After Mick McCarthy's side failed to make the most of a bright start, first-half goals from Jermaine Beckford, Phil Neville and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov left Wolves staring at the abyss.
The defeat was the third time Wolves have shipped three goals in their last four games, and leaves Them second from bottom in the table ahead of the weekend's other fixtures.
Everton remain seventh but move to within a point of Liverpool ahead of their local rivals' clash with Manchester City on Monday.
The home side began in imposing and dominant fashion, with Neville bravely blocking a strike from Adlene Guedioura - making his first appearance since breaking his leg six months ago - before Steven Fletcher's header was blocked en route to goal by Leon Osman.
Sylvain Ebanks-Blake had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Phil Dowd, who was well placed to rule Phil Jagielka's challenge was a fair one, and soon afterwards Everton were head very much against the run of play.
The Toffees are still without injured star duo Mikel Arteta, but the opener bore the hallmarks of both. Osman bent in an inviting cross and Beckford's excellent movement allowed him to nip in front of goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and head in at the near post.
Guedioura almost grabbed an instant reply when his curling shot flew just the wrong side of the far post but, after Hennessey denied Beckford a second headed goal with a fine save, Everton doubled their lead.
Hennessey made a good reaction stop after a corner ricocheted off George Elokobi. Beckford was quickest to react, and he played it back to Neville on the edge of the box. The Everton skipper fired in a great finish to register his first goal since December 2007, and only the 12th of his entire career.
Just before the break Everton effectively killed the game off when a mix-up in midfield allowed Bilyaletdinov to surge forward and blast a fearsome, swerving strike past Hennessey.
Ebanks-Blake was replaced at half-time by Michael Kightly as Wolves reverted to 4-5-1, more out of necessity than design.
The home side - clearly missing injured striker Kevin Doyle, took time to readjust and could not reduce the deficit. On the hour mark when Tim Howard was forced into a good save from Karl Henry's solid strike before parrying Jamie O'Hara's header from the subsequent corner.
After his wonderful first goal, Bilyaletdinov squandered the chance to score anhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifother from six yards when he miscued his strike and hit his hurried second effort over the bar.
David Moyes used his team's comfortable position to bring on youngsters Apostolos Vellios and Adam Forshaw from the bench, and his side remained solid enough to close out the win, securing a first clean sheet on the road in 12 league games.
Wolves have six matches left to secure their survival. May fixtures against Birmingham, West Brom and Blackburn mean that their fate is not entirely out of their own hands.
Tony Mabert / Eurosport
Source:uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Team Line-up:
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hennessey, Foley, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi, Guedioura, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher. Subs: Hahnemann, Craddock, Kightly, Ward, Hammill, Milijas, Mancienne
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Gueye, Neville, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov, Osman, Beckford. Subs: Mucha, Vellios, Anichebe, Mustafi, McAleny, Forshaw, Nsiala.
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