Everton 2 Sheff Utd 0: Everton got back on track after four league games without a victory, with a tumble from Andrew Johnson which helped secure the second goal a key moment at Goodison Park.
The Toffees had gone ahead with an early Mikel Arteta header, but when Claude Davis was shown the red card after Johnson sprawled in the box, James Beattie's penalty should have ended the game as a contest.
But the Blades - far from impressed with the penalty award - responded with a commendable second-half fightback. The visitors threw men forward and made Everton look ordinary, but their efforts ultimately proved fruitless.
Unless Blades boss Neil Warnock finds someone who can score goals at this level - they have only managed four in nine games - their stay in the top flight will be brief.
Simon Davies was given another chance on the right flank while Beattie came in up front alongside Johnson. The former Crystal Palace striker's pace and tenacity twice threatened to embarrass Davis and Phil Jagielka before Everton took a 13th-minute lead.
Davies' determined run across midfield ended with a ball to Neville, who fired over a cross despite being fouled by Leigh Bromby.
The linesman flagged, but referee Dermot Gallagher waited just a few seconds to see where the move would end - and it proved a good move as Arteta headed low into the corner of the goal.
In the 33rd minute Davies and Arteta combined to send Johnson racing away, with Davis in pursuit. The England forward went crashing in the box, although TV replays suggested only minimal contact.
But it was enough for Gallagher to instantly point to the spot and dismiss Davis, before Beattie blasted in the spot-kick.
The Blades immediately sent on defender Chris Morgan to fill the gap left by Davis - front man Alan Quinn being sacrificed - before wasting two efforts to get back into the game.
First Colin Kazim-Richards deflected a Rob Hulse header goalwards, with Tim Howard making an instinctive block to keep out the effort. A minute later Hulse got away on the left and pulled an effort across goal and inches wide of the far post.
The Blades started the second period with commendable spirit,
and should have scored when Tim Cahill's misplaced pass allowed
Chris Armstrong to send Leigertwood clear — but his fierce
cross-shot flashed inches wide of the far
post.
There had been very little to trouble Paddy Kenny in the second period, and when McFadden's 18-yard effort sailed wide with 10 minutes left, Everton were no nearer their third goal.
Webber then saw a close-range effort cannon back off Howard's shins, with the Blades hardly looking like a 10-man team.
And when McFadden's 88th-minute header produced the first genuine save for Kenny in the half, it spoke volumes about Everton's efforts after the break.
