Everton 2-0 Burnley: James Vaughan and Steven Pienaar fire Toffees to victory

Everton eased their relegation fears with two late goals to secure their first home league win since September.

Substitute James Vaughan grabbed the first, less than a minute after entering the action, and Steven Pienaar rifled home the second in injury time.

Burnley were reduced to ten men after a hour when Stephen Jordan was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

Everton made one change from the side that drew at Sunderland on Boxing Day, striker Yakubu replacing Louis Saha, who has a muscle injury.

Burnley, without a victory in eight games, were unchanged from the side which drew with Bolton at the weekend.

Before today's game neither side have won a Premier League match for almost two months.

Everton started brightly, with Leon Osman wasting an early chance following Yakubu's pull back from the line. Then the big Nigerian saw a fierce shot cannon away off Michael Duff's arm, with referee Howard Webb refusing loud penalty appeals.

Burnley's David Nugent fired into the side netting after a poor header from Lucas Neill dropped at his feet.

Then Tim Howard had to beat away a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Steve Fletcher before the Everton keeper had to equally athletic to turn away a drive from Wade Elliott.

Everton went close after 22 minutes when Yakubu met a left-wing cross with a tentative prod that clipped Brian Jensen's right-hand post.

Stephen Jordan was then booked for a 27th minute foul on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

The Russian winger then had a great chance to open the scoring after a fine run and pass from Steven Pienaar. Bilyaletdinov stepped inside Jordan to force a low save to his right from Jensen.

Everton kept pressing and Pienaar and Yakubu both went close, while Marouane Fellaini saw a header deflected wide.

John Heitinga arrived from the back to fire over from 18 yards as the Toffees finished the half on top.

The second period started with Kevin McDonald firing wide of the far post following a Chris Eagles run.

Andre Bikey was then booked following minimal contact with Yakubu, Heitinga firing the free-kick through the wall only for Jensen to field safely.

After 57 minutes Nugent caught Everton cold, the home side believing he was offside, to crack a shot on the turn against the far post.

Everton's problems increased when Tim Cahill limped off after 58 minutes, allowing Phil Neville to return to the side for the first time since September following a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Two minutes later Burnley were down to ten men when Jordan picked up a second yellow card for pulling back Pienaar. That caused boss Owen Coyle to sacrifice a striker, Nugent, to allow Christian Kalvenes to come on as a substitute and fill the left-back slot.

Graham Alexander had a decent shout for a penalty turned down when his driven cross crashed into Neill's arm as he threw his body in the way.

Duff was booked after 69 minutes for bringing down Bilyaletdinov in full flow, with Burnley now hanging on.

With nine minutes left Burnley sent on Steven Thompson to replace Fletcher up front, while Everton put on youngster James Vaughan in place of Bilyaletdinov.

And the change paid off inside a minute when Vaughan fired in from close range after a left-wing cross had eluded Yakubu.

The Birmingham-born striker was making only his third substitute appearance of another injury ruined season.

The 21-year-old has suffered three years of injury problems, and this was his first senior goal for more than two years.

Burnley then sent on Robbie Blake for Elliott, and had Tyrone Mears booked in the final minutes for a foul on Pienaar.

But there was still time for Pienaar to take a pass from Yakubu in the final minute to blast home the second.