Everton 4 Aston Villa 1:  Disgruntled Aston Villa fans chanted "We want O'Leary out" as the visitors slumped to a heavy defeat at Goodison Park. A patched-up Villa side were well beaten by Everton, who have now won six successive home league games, their best record since 1990.

David O’Leary could only watch as his defence was cut to shreds in the first half, James McFadden, Tim Cahill and Leon Osman putting the Toffees firmly in control at the break.

Villa, knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City in midweek, did mount a spirited comeback and Gabriel Agbonlahor scored on his debut, before a second Cahill goal arrived in the final minute.

Villa were crippled with injuries and had to give 19-year-old striker Gabriel Agbonlahor his senior debut.

The Erdington-born youngster had been out on loan this season to Watford and Sheffield Wednesday and was the academy’s record breaking scorer two seasons ago, but this was still a big step up.

Everton were without Nuno Valente who is suffering with a thigh problem and that allowed Gary Naysmith in at left-back.

Everton soon took over and were cruising by the break. They took the lead on 15 minutes when Alan Stubbs’ long free-kick was headed down by James Beattie for McFadden to drive home from the edge of the box.

Villa should have equalised first when Stubbs cleared a Davis effort off the line and then following the resulting corner, both Agbonlahor and Davis also saw efforts cleared off the line by Cahill and Stubbs.

But that was about it as far as Villa’s attacking was concerned and Everton moved two ahead after 22 minutes.

Phil Neville’s long throw was headed on by Beattie for McFadden to get in a shot which came out off a post for Cahill to blast home.

On the stroke of half-time Cahill sent Arteta away on the left to pull back a cross which Osman reached first to fire home for the third.

Villa started to look somewhat threatening in the second half and pulled a goal back after 63 minutes when Hendrie’s ball released Agbonlahor on the right and he produced a right-footed angled shot which went past Richard Wright too easily and inside the far post.

Mellberg was booked after 89 minutes for a foul on Cahill, and from the free-kick the ball was lifted into the box for McFadden to backheel to Cahill, with the Australian drilling home his second goal of the game.

PA