Match ends, Everton 2, Norwich City 0.
Everton 2-0 Norwich City
- From the section Football
Everton moved into the Premier League top four as they comfortably beat Norwich to leave the Canaries winless in six league matches.
Gareth Barry's stunning 20-yard strike, his 50th Premier League goal, opened the scoring for the dominant hosts.
Kevin Mirallas's free-kick from 20 yards doubled the lead after the break as Everton eased to victory.
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Robert Snodgrass headed against the post late on for the visitors before Ricky van Wolfswinkel shot wide.
Everton unveiled Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady on the pitch before the game, having completed his signing from Spartak Moscow on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The 27-year-old was wanted by Roberto Martinez at Wigan last season but will know he has a fight on his hands to earn a regular starting place as Everton continued their sparkling form this season.
Martinez's career as Everton manager could hardly have started better, with the Toffees going into the game five points and one place better off than at the same stage last season.
Much of their success has come from their continued good form at Goodison Park. Boxing Day's defeat by Sunderland was their only home loss in 2013, with only four defeats in their past 32 home games.
Against that backdrop, their confident start was no surprise as they dominated possession early on. Romelu Lukaku dragged a shot wide before the Belgian striker headed inches wide at the far post after Mirallas's deep cross from the left.
Norwich's resolve was finally broken when Barry drove the ball into the top corner from 20 yards, after Lukaku's lay-off, for his third Everton goal since joining on loan from Manchester City.
With the Canaries struggling for goals this season, having scored only 17 times in 20 games, Gary Hooper was partnered with record signing Van Wolfswinkel for the first time.
The Dutchman has scored just once for the club since signing from Sporting Lisbon in the summer for in the region of £8.5m, in the 2-2 draw with Everton on the opening day, and almost brought the visitors level with a curling strike from 20 yards that was clawed out by Tim Howard.
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Norwich chances were few and far between though, although Hooper was denied twice by Howard when through, as an impressive passing display from the hosts left Chris Hughton's men hanging on just to stay in the game.
Everton continued to dominate after the break but, as they failed to capitalise on their possession, the visitors' hope grew, with Van Wolfswinkel volleying a rare chance over the bar.
That hope was extinguished soon after as Mirallas curled home his third goal of the season from 20 yards, leaving Norwich, who rallied late on, just two points above the relegation zone.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez:
"It was an entertaining game and important to score that second goal.
"Overall we created a lot of chances, maybe that clinical touch in the final third was missing but I couldn't be happier the clean sheet. Some of the phases of our game were fantastic.
"The way we handled the second half was pleasing. The understanding between the players is clear, we are getting really strong. We need players back from injury and make sure competition for places is as strong."
Norwich manager Chris Hughton:
"They were good. We knew that before we came here. There isn't a side that has come here and had more possession this season.
"What you need to do is stick in there. We had the best chance of the half through Gary Hooper, they score a spectacular goal.
"In the second half I thought we gave a good account of ourselves but we were up against a really good unit."
Line-ups
Everton
- 24Howard
- 23Coleman
- 3Baines
- 18Barry
- 26StonesBooked at 45mins
- 6Jagielka
- 11Mirallas
- 16McCarthy
- 17Lukaku
- 21OsmanSubstituted forHeitingaat 69'minutes
- 22PienaarSubstituted forNaismithat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Robles
- 2Hibbert
- 5Heitinga
- 8Oviedo
- 14Naismith
- 19Gueye
- 27Vellios
Norwich
- 1Ruddy
- 3Whittaker
- 23Olsson
- 10Fer
- 24BennettBooked at 63mins
- 5Bassong NguenaBooked at 90mins
- 7Snodgrass
- 4Johnson
- 11Hooper
- 9van WolfswinkelSubstituted forMurphyat 88'minutes
- 18GarridoSubstituted forRedmondat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Martin
- 13Bunn
- 14Hoolahan
- 16Elmander
- 22Redmond
- 25Fox
- 31Murphy
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 36,827
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamNorwich
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home23
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home10
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away14
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Norwich City 0.
Attempt blocked. Steven Naismith (Everton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Leighton Baines.
Booking
Sébastien Bassong (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Seamus Coleman.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Josh Murphy replaces Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Gareth Barry (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Norwich City).
Foul by Romelu Lukaku (Everton).
Ryan Bennett (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Steven Naismith (Everton).
Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gary Hooper.
Foul by James McCarthy (Everton).
Leroy Fer (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Johnny Heitinga.
Attempt blocked. Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Nathan Redmond with a cross.
Attempt missed. Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt blocked. Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Steven Whittaker.
Attempt missed. Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sébastien Bassong.
Foul by Steven Naismith (Everton).
Sébastien Bassong (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Nathan Redmond (Norwich City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Gareth Barry (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Leroy Fer (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Steven Naismith replaces Steven Pienaar because of an injury.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Leighton Baines.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Johnny Heitinga replaces Leon Osman.
Attempt missed. Seamus Coleman (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Kevin Mirallas (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ryan Bennett.
Steven Pienaar (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Nathan Redmond replaces Javier Garrido.
Offside, Everton. Seamus Coleman tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.
Booking
Ryan Bennett (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Seamus Coleman (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Bennett (Norwich City).
Foul by Romelu Lukaku (Everton).
