Everton 2 Aston Villa 1 - match report and pictures

The Belgian's superb free kick five minutes from time turned the game around after Leandro Bacuna had fired Villa ahead.

Steven Naismith equalised with 16 minutes left after relentless second-half pressure from the hosts.

Home debutant Aiden McGeady smacked the post early on during an opening low on excitement as Villa failed to create any chances other than Bacuna's goal.

Villa remain 10th despite the defeat, five points above the Premier League's bottom three.

Grant Holt replaced Matt Lowton for a full debut while Nathan Baker came in for Karim El Ahmadi following Wednesday's 4-3 derby win over Albion.

Everton were without ex-Baggies loanee Romelu Lukaku, sidelined with an ankle problem, so Mirallas led the line.

Leighton Baines' free kick was collected by McGeady on the right and he cut inside Ryan Bertrand to whip a fine effort which cannoned off the outside of the post.

But it was a rare moment of excitement in a dull opening where the teams cancelled each other out, Villa's work rate stifling Everton's attempts to dictate the tempo.

Compact Villa were comfortable with Bertrand's battle with McGeady the centre point of an even half, with the ex-Celtic winger shooting at Guzan.

The visitors, though, failed to conjure a chance until the 34th minute when they took the lead with their first serious attack.

Fabian Delph robbed Ross Barkley and sent Benteke through to find Bacuna who drilled across Tim Howard.

It was Villa's first shot on target but they had at least created a clear opening, unlike the insipid Toffees who couldn't break down the organised visitors.

Steven Pienaar replaced Barkley at the break as Everton searched for a breakthrough and they came close on 55 minutes when Leon Osman robbed Ashley Westwood and drilled wide.

Everton were on top and El Ahmadi replaced Holt as Villa looked to contain the growing threat from the hosts.

Osman and Pienaar shot straight at Guzan with the Toffees camped in the visitors' half and they almost levelled when Benteke deflected Baines' dangerous free kick inches past his own post.

And with 16 minutes left Everton finally scored when Gareth Barry and Pienaar combined to slip in Naismith – who had only been on the pitch four minutes – to roll in.

It had been coming with Howard a mere interested observer in the Everton goal as Villa failed to cope with the Toffees' second-half pressure.

And Everton turned the game around with five minutes left when Ciaran Clark barged Miralles over and the Belgian curled in a brilliant 30-yard free kick.

It was deserved after Everton's second-half efforts but Marc Albrighton nearly rescued a point when his injury time shot deflected over.