The wheels appear to have fallen off Manchester City's frantic sojourn in the top flight. Their plight was typified by Nicky Weaver who single-handedly kept Everton out with a trio of eye-catching stops and saved a penalty at full stretch before undermining everything by allowing David Weir's innocuous late header to creep into the net.

"Nicky made some outstanding saves," sympathised his manager Joe Royle, back at his spiritual home for the first time since he resigned amid acrimonious whisperings in March 1997.

"I was more disappointed with the free header than the save for the last goal. It was just a dead bounce. That's symptomatic of our season. We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot."

With six games remaining, City wallow in 19th place, four points from safety. That margin may be extended to seven should Middlesbrough emerge victorious from the Teesside-Wearside derby today.

All three of the home goals came courtesy of distinctly Nationwide League defending, while the late dismissals of Paul Dickov and Alessandro Pistone for handbags on the touchline added to the farce.

Such an emphatic defeat was hard on City who tore the home side apart in the opening minutes. Andrei Kanchelskis dragged a shot across Paul Gerrard's goal and wide of the far post after barely 20 seconds.

When the Ukrainian's shot three minutes later hit the recalled Paulo Wanchope, Dickov fluffed his effort from just outside the sixyard box.

With Everton rattled, the visitors found reward. Kanchelskis and David Unsworth tussled on the ground and City were awarded a free-kick.

Danny Tiatto, whose feet had been dancing merrily while the home side laboured, crossed for Jeff Whitley to head his first goal of the season.

The cat-calls sparked an immediate response. Niclas Alexandersson's cross was nodded back across goal by Kevin Campbell for Duncan Ferguson to sidefoot an equaliser.

Five minutes before the interval, Michael Ball lobbed forward and with Richard Dunne static, Campbell burst through before being tripped as he strode round the sprawling goalkeeper.

Ball's penalty, low to Weaver's left, was palmed out, but the England defender calmly prodded the loose ball into the empty net.

"It was a strange first half for us," said the Everton manager Walter Smith. "City put us under pressure in all parts of the pitch, but we still created chances.

"I feel we've got a bit to do to ensure we stay up, but this was a massive result."

Subsequently faced by a calmer rearguard, City rarely threatened parity. Instead, Everton prospected on the break.

Weaver denied Steve Watson, who had sprinted from inside his own half after dispossessing Alfie Haaland on the edge of the home area. With the visiting supporters still cooing after Weaver's instinctive save from Scott Gemmill's shot, Weir's header from the resultant corner bounced in the mud and crept through.

"I know my position is under scrutiny, but I've got faith in my own ability," insisted the under21 international.

At least he did not have to test his confidence late on against either Ferguson, who limped off, or his replacement Francis Jeffers. The livewire striker dislocated his shoulder and is unlikely to feature over Easter.

EVERTON: Gerrard, Steve Watson, Weir, Ball, Pistone, Alexandersson (Tal 77), Gemmill, Gravesen, Unsworth, Campbell, Ferguson (Jeffers 46), Jeffers (Pembridge 70). Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Hibbert. Sent Off: Pistone (88). Goals: Ferguson 16, Ball 40, Weir 84.

MANCHESTER CITY: Weaver, Haaland, Howey, Dunne, Granville (Kennedy 46), Kanchelskis (Huckerby 74), Wiekens, Whitley, Tiatto, Dickov, Wanchope. Subs Not Used: Nash, Ostenstad, Charvet. Sent Off: Dickov (88). Booked: Wanchope, Weaver, Tiatto, Whitley. Goals: Whitley 9.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).