Everton heaped further misery on Aston Villa on Tuesday night with a 3-1 result at Villa Park.
Ramiro Funes Mori opened the scoring after just five mutes when he emphatically headed home Kevin Mirallas' corner before Villa enjoyed an attacking spell in which they placed the Toffees under immense pressure.
However, the visitors hit on the break on the half-hour mark resulting in Mirallas playing a lovely ball for Aaron Lennon who slotted home first time to make it 2-0.
15 minutes into the second half, Everton were three goals to the good when Funes Mori sent in a dangerous cross from the right which found an unmarked Romelu Lukaku who thighed it home for his 17th league goal of the season, setting a new club record.
On the 74-minute mark, Villa fans staged a mass walkout in protest at the club's owners, citing the moment as the foundation year of the club of 1874.
In the 79th minute, Villa pulled one back when Rudy Gestede nodded home Jordan Veretout's right-wing cross but it clearly was not enough as Roberto Martinez's men moved up to 10th as Remi Garde's hapless Villans remain rooted to the foot of the standings.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Aston Villa: 1 (Rudy Gestede 79')
Everton: 3 (Ramiro Funes Mori 5', Aaron Lennon 30', Romelu Lukaku 60')
Villa Park, Birmingham - 29,755
TALKING POINTS
- Aston Villa are destined for the Championship. Can Garde get them playing freely in the final 10 matches to give them at least some hope of getting the required points to avoid the drop?
- How prolific will Romelu Lukaku be? 17 goals in a league season for the second time and he is only 22!
WHAT'S NEXT?
Villa face the arduous task of taking on Man City away on Saturday as Everton host West Ham at Goodison.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Another good win tonight!!! Also buzzing to swap shirts with @speedomick legend, #toffees
— Aaron Lennon (@AaronLennon12) March 2, 2016
Important 3 points away , good performance boys . COYB pic.twitter.com/fEUqzVXTX9
— Joel Robles (@joelroblesb) March 1, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Villa boss Garde on the fan walkout:
"I'm not too comfortable with this. I'm not in a position here long enough to assess the behaviour of everyone.
"I respect totally the fans as part of this football club but I have to respect as well my position and the people who put me in this position."
Everton's Martinez on Lukaku:
"Rom is still a very young man, we forget he's still only 22, but I think the way he's developed as an individual has been terrific and the responsibility he's developed this season.
"The goalscoring has always been one of the biggest strengths for Rom but to see him growing in terms of what he does for the team is very pleasing."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
17 - Romelu Lukaku has now scored 17 Premier League goals this season, equalling his best ever return in 2012/13. Flourishing.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 1, 2016
4 - Aaron Lennon has found the net in four of his last six Premier League games. Renaissance.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 1, 2016
3 - Ramiro Funes Mori has scored three Premier League goals this season; only one defender ( Scott Dann, 5) has netted more. Outlet.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 1, 2016
