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Everton survived a second-half scare to win 3-1 against Stoke City, who dropped into the relegation zone after their 11th defeat on the road this season.

First-half goals from on-loan striker Jo and defender Joleon Lescott - which both came after goalkeeping errors from Stoke's Thomas Sorensen - put the Toffees in control at Goodison Park, with Stoke offering little in reply in the first half.

But Ryan Shawcross's early second-half goal brought the visitors back into it, and David Moyes's side survived some nervy moments before Marouane Fellaini struck at the death to register Everton's third goal.

The opener came after some nice interplay between Jo and Fellaini 18 minutes into proceedings. The midfielder headed a long ball on for the Brazilian, who returned the ball to Fellaini before spinning into space behind the Stoke defence. The ball was then slid perfectly back into Jo's path by the Belgian, and the striker coolly struck the ball low and left-footed towards goal.

Sorensen got a hand to Jo's shot, but the ball bobbled out of his grasp and over the line. The Stoke keeper probably should have made the save, but Everton deserved the goal for the incisiveness of their build-up play.

The Danish keeper was again culpable for the second goal, which came just six minutes after the first. Everton won a free-kick wide on the left, which was pumped into the Stoke box. The initial cross was half-cleared, but the ball was crossed back into the area from the right, and Tim Cahill headed goalwards from 10 yards out.

Sorensen should have caught Cahill's header, but instead he could only parry to Lescott, who poked the ball home from point-blank range.

Stoke failed to create a single meaningful chance in the remainder of the half as Everton looked on course for an easy three points. Leon Osman came close to extending the Toffees' lead with a curling effort that flashed over the bar five minutes before the interval, while Fellaini and Jo linked up time and again to trouble Stoke's defence.

But whatever Tony Pulis said at the break certainly fired up his players, as they came flying out of the blocks in the second period, crunching into tackles all over the pitch. That doggedness earned them an equaliser on 51 minutes when Shawcross looped a header into the back of the net after latching on to a Liam Lawrence corner.

As with the opening two goals, there were question marks over the goalkeeping, as Tim Howard made a dramatic dive towards Shawcross's header but completely missed the ball.

Stoke then sent on Ricardo Fuller in place of Mamady Sidibe up front as they looked to repeat their unlikely recent comeback at Villa Park.

And they almost scored from another corner five minutes after the first, but Shawcross just failed to get a scoring touch to Danny Higginbotham's flick on.

Glenn Whelan arrowed a long-range shot marginally wide as Stoke pushed forwards, but Everton had the last laugh when Fellaini turned Shawcross in the area before unleashing a low shot which deflected past a stranded Sorensen to wrap up the win for the home side a couple of minutes from time.

The result cements Everton's hold on sixth place, while Stoke fall to 18th behind Portsmouth and Newcastle on goal difference.

Ben Phillips / Eurosport