Everton remain rooted to the foot of the Barclays Premiership after slumping to yet another defeat at Manchester City.
Danny Mills broke the deadlock in a largely drab north-west derby 18 minutes from time when he rifled a 25-yard thunderbolt past his former Leeds team-mate Nigel Martyn.
The Toffeemen did have a couple of chances to level late on, but it was Darius Vassell who finished Everton off in stoppage time when he tucked home Barton's through ball for 2-0.
Corkman Stephen Ireland was named man-of-the-match on his first Premiership start for City.
Everton remain rooted to the bottom of the table with three points while City go joint fourth on fourteen points.
