Cahill helps Everton to fourth spot

Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill has played a leading role in Everton’s 2-0 win over close rivals Manchester City, as the race for the fourth of next seasons European Champions League spots hots up.

Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill has played a leading role in Everton-s 2-0 win over close rivals Manchester City, as the race for the fourth of next seasons European Champions League spots hots up.

Cahill brilliantly teed up the opening goal for Yakubu, as Everton surged into 4th spot, three points ahead of its arch rival Liverpool, who has an extra game in hand.

Everton struck twice in the opening half and never looked like surrendering its lead in the second half.

Yakubu, who has the enviable record of never losing a game in which he has scored in the Premier League, was on hand to tuck home a cross from Cahill, after the Australian made space for himself with a brilliant turn in the box. They added a second eight minutes later from Joleon Lescott.

Mark Bresciano was on the goalscorers sheet for Palermo, opening the scoring in the 9th minute, as his shot brushed the chest of AC Milan-s Massimo Oddo and past Bresciano-s former Socceroo team mate Zeljko Kalac.

AC Milan hit back with a goal 15 minutes later and snatched a late win. Bresciano was replaced after 55 minutes, while Kalac played a full game.

Another to find the back of the net was Brett Holman, as NEC Nijmegen won 3-2 away at Heerenveen to ease there way from the relegation zone. Down 2-0 early in the match, NEC fought back against a 10-man Heerenveen, with almost leveling the scores up in the 73rd minute, as they went onto win with a late goal.

The goalscoring run of Scott McDonald and Josh Kennedy ended this week, with Celtic managing a late 1-0 win over St Mirren, while Kennedy-s Karlsruhe lost 3-1 away to Stuttgart.

Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton both played full games for West Ham and Blackburn Rovers respectively. West Ham managed a late win over Fulham, while Blackburn was convincing 4-1 winners against Bolton Wanderers.

Nick Carle lasted 55 minutes in Bristol City-s 2-1 win over Colchester and stays in second spot on the Championship ladder, while Richard Garcia made his return to the Hull City side, playing 69 minutes in an upset 2-1 win away at West Brom.