Everton thrash sorry Stoke

Classy Everton took all three points from the Britannia Stadium against a disjointed Stoke.

Goals from Aaron Lennon, Sheamus Coleman and a penalty from Romelu Lukaku gave the Toffees all three points.

Stoke dominated possession but had no cutting edge, lack any real creativity or urgency and chances were a premium for the Potters.

That with a disorganised defence, which was full of mistakes, was recipe for disaster on a cold, windy and wet day in Staffordshire.

The defeat, which is the Potters third successive 3-0 defeat, means they have gone four league games without a victory, where they have not also scored a goal; their worst run in the top flight since the dreadful 1985 campaign.

Stoke have now dropped to 11th in the league, whilst Everton have rose to 9th.

Mark Hughes was able to give a debut to new record signing, Gianelli Imbula, who was the only shining light on a dreary day.

He showed some good touches and vision, showing confidence on the ball and not afraid to exploit space. He struggled to create anything with the other Potters players showing no desire to create space or any creative movement in front of the £18 million player.

Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring when Tom Cleverley was fouled in the area by Jack Butland, although it seemed contact was at premium.

Lukaku coolly slotted the ball down the middle of the goal, continuing Butland`s disappointing penalty record.

Everton doubled their lead from a corner, which could have easily been a penalty. Ibrahim Afellay dived in at Gareth Barry, and clattered the veteran midfielder, but Marriner pointed for a corner, rather than the spot.

Tom Cleverley swung in the resulting corner which saw Irishman Coleman rise highest to flick the ball into the far corner of the net.

Stoke did manage to create one chance in the half, but Marko Arnautovic, who did well to take the ball in his stride in the area, couldn`t manufacture a good enough shot and hit straight at Joel Rubles in the Everton goal.

Just before half-time, Everton put the game to bed as Aaron Lennon surged onto a wayward Phillip Wollscheid pass and managed to run straight down the middle of the pitch before sliding the ball easily past Jack Butland.

The second half was more of the same but Jack Butland managed to keep the scores respectable. He first saved from point blank when Lukaku rose highest in the box, but the England keeper managed to push on to the bar.

The stopper had to then deny Lukaku`s replacement Aruna Kone, who managed to race clear after a simply ball down the Stoke right channel, but Butland made himself massive to block the Ivorian.

The Potters did have a chance to grab a consolation, first through Glen Johnson but his serving shot was well saved by Joel. Substitute Joselu also got clear down the right wing but his neat pullback was blazed over by fellow substitute Stephen Ireland.