WANDERERS HOPES for Boxing Day joy were delivered a knockout blow as second-half goals from Phil Neville and Tim Cahill gave Everton all the points at Goodison.

Buoyed by their pre-Christmas victory at home to Birmingham City, Gary Megson was able to name an unchanged side as his troops confidently made the short journey to Merseyside.

But after a bright start to the game, his players were unable to prevent the Toffees from claiming their second victory of the campaign against Wanderers.

The Wanderers boss, however, will be disappointed at the manner his players conceded their goals.

Defender Ricardo Gardner carved open the first chance of the game after 15 minutes but his strike from distance flew over Tim Howard's cross bar.

The Jamaican international then set up El-Hadji Diouf with a measured pass, but the African ace was soon charged down as he geared up to get a strike on goal.

After a quiet start, the Toffees sprang into life after 20 minutes with Mikel Arteta's deflected shot going to safety after running onto Joleon Lescott's pass.

Arteta was enjoying the game and he found striker Yakubu just after the half-hour mark. But the former Portsmouth hitman was off balance as he got his head to the ball at the far post.

Kevin Nolan did well to get in the way of Thomas Gravesen's volley and Yakubu put the ball into the back of the net just before the interval but his effort was ruled out after Cahill strayed into an offside postion.

The Toffees came out of the traps immediately after the restart after Cahill ran onto Yakubu's ball. The midfielder would have scored but for a marvellous point-blank save from Jaaskelainen.

The Wanderers 'keeper was in good form moments later when he turned away a shot from Lescott.

But the Finn soon made an uncharacteristic error that set the hosts on their way to victory. He came racing off the line to prevent Neville's right sided cross from reaching Cahill. But he was distracted and Neville's cross somehow ended up in the back of the net.

Megson made a double change just before the hour, with Jlloyd Samuel and Gavin McCann coming on for Ivan Campo and Danny Guthrie.

The substitutions almost made an immediate impact when McCann connected with an audacious overhead kick but Lescott was well-placed to clear the midfielder's effort off the line.

The hosts extended their lead on 70 minutes when referee Rob Styles played advantage after McCann knocked over Gravesen. Wanderers appeared rooted to the spot as Lescott raced to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Cahill. The in-form midfielder placed his shot beyond Jaaskelainen.

Wanderers tried to get back into the game and Anelka almost pulled one back only for Howard to make a fine save late in the game.