Everton finally find the real Yakubu

The forward cost David Moyes £11.25million in the summer and until Sunday the dealmay have been a genuine contender for the title of the worst piece of business in the close season.

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Yakubu's power, skill and eye for goal made him a cult hero at Middlesbrough, but those commodities had been in short supply as he scored one goal in five appearances for Everton.

But, by showing an acute awareness of his teammates and that killer instinct in front of goal once more, he re-kindled hopes that Moyes may not have wasted his money.

It was the Nigerian striker's step-over that allowed Mikel Arteta to grab the 26th-minute goal that set Moyes on his way to ending a three-game losing streak.

And Yakubu turned back the clock with the touch and left-foot finish that ended the game shortly after the hour.

Moyes said: "All we want from Yak is that he scores the goals he did for Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.

"He delivered an important goal. We needed a second because you are always vulnerable with just one.

"In the main, when he gets in those positions, he doesn't miss.

"His input for the first goal was excellent. You have to take a lot of things into account — awareness of your team-mates and the weight of the pass.

"It was a great dummy. He's a better footballer than I thought."

The leakiest defence in the top-flight was pierced when what appeared to be a routine ball from Phil Jagielka into Yakubu's feet was stepped over by the striker.

Arteta had run off the back of Matt Oakley and Stephen Bywater's hand was not enough to deflect the ball anywhere other than the net.

Stephen Pearson pulled a save out of Tim Howard — Derby's only shot on goal — and the game was made safe when Tim Cahill's run created space into which Yakubu was able to receive Stephen Pienaar's pass.

He controlled with his right and finished with his left as he added to the goal he scored against Bolton on his debut.

Derby boss Billy Davies threw on all his substitutes but it is 341 minutes since his side have scored in the league.

He said: "No excuses. We were beaten by the better side. They had much more quality than us."

Rumours persist that a consortium, led by ex-Hull chairman Adam Pearson, may be on the verge of injecting a significant sum of money into Derby.

Davies said: "It's up to the owners of the club what happens.

"They are in charge of the hiring and firing and everything else that goes on at the club."

DERBY (4-5-1): Bywater 5; Mears 5, Moore 5, Davis 5, McEveley 5; Fagan 4 (Howard 62min, 5), Oakley 6, Pearson 5, Barnes 5, Lewis 4 (Earnshaw 57, 4); Miller 4 (Jones 79).

Booked: Moore.

EVERTON (4-5-1): Howard 6; Jagielka 6, Yobo 6, Lescott 6, Baines 6 (Stubbs 46, 6); Pienaar 6, Carsley 7, Cahill 6 (McFadden 84), Osman 7, Arteta 6; Yakubu 8 (Anichebe 80).

Booked: Jagielka

Man-of-the-match: Yakubu.

Referee: Steve Bennett.