Everton consolidated their drive for Uefa Cup qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 defeat of Derby County at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman's second-half strike settled a disjointed clash between teams at opposite ends of the Premier League, and lifted David Moyes's side seven points clear of sixth-placed Portsmouth.

For relegated Derby, there would be no repeat of last week's barnstorming 2-2 draw with Fulham. Paul Jewell's side were fiercely competitive, however, and defended with a resolve sadly lacking from the greater part of their miserable campaign.

For all their possession, Derby failed to create clear-cut chances. Everton, on the other hand, fashioned a bucketload - and wasted all but one of them.

Their first arrived after just 13 minutes, when Leighton Baines's low cross arrived at Yakubu's feet five yards out.

The Nigerian striker was unmarked, and had ample time to collect himself and stroke the ball into an empty net - but he shot first-time and sent a wild effort high and wide.

Soon after, Manuel Fernandes saw his low shot well saved by Roy Carroll, and minutes later Mikel Arteta sent a 20-yard free-kick ballooning over the bar.

There was still time for Lee Carsley to head wide from 12 yards, before the half-time whistle signalled a torrential downpour on Merseyside which would last the remainder of the game.

Everton's breakthrough eventually arrived 10 minutes after the restart, and owed much to the vision of Fernandes.

The Portuguese midfielder cut inside and fed a weighted pass into Osman, inviting him forward. For once, the finish was true, and the home side finally had their goal.

Derby responded well, and spurned their best chance just after the hour mark when Kenny Miller's dummy sent Emanuel Villa clean through on goal.

Villa - who scored twice against Fulham - shot low and hard, but Everton keeper Tim Howard got down well to save with his feet.

Despite territorial domination and incessant pressure, it was the closest Jewell's side would come to an equaliser.

Yakubu missed another couple of chances for the home side, and Carroll did well to deny Fernandes's powerful shot - but there would be no grandstand finish to a game in keeping with the miserable weather.

Will Tidey / Eurosport