Everton edge out Leicester

Kevin Campbell was on target for Everton in win

Everton 2-1 Leicester City

Everton's mini-revival continued as they held off the challenge of disappointing Leicester City at Goodison Park.

Walter Smith's side have mounted a minor recovery in the Premier League after the shame of their FA Cup fourth round exit against lowly neighbours Tranmere Rovers.

And first half goals from re-united attacking pair Francis Jeffers and Kevin Campbell established the foundations for a vital three points in the battle to escape the relegation zone.

Dean Sturridge pulled a goal back for Leicester late on, but it was not enough to deny Everton their first win at home in three months.

We have been missing our strikers playing together, and you saw the difference here

  Everton manager Walter Smith

Leicester City boss Peter Taylor watched his team brushed side in uncharacteristic fashion in the first half by an increasingly confident Everton.

And Campbell and Jeffers more than made up for the absence of Duncan Ferguson, out with the shoulder injury he sustained in the midweek draw against Leeds at Goodison Park.

It was a major lift for Everton boss Smith that he was able to field the strike force that served him so well last season, with Jeffers given his first start since September after ankle surgery.

Taylor - disappointed by the Leicester display

And he marked his return with a goal after only seven minutes to give struggling Everton the perfect start.

Dane Thomas Gravesen was the creator, with a pass that evaded Matt Elliott, allowing the lurking Jeffers to score at the second attempt.

Leicester were desperately poor in the opening period, and their only moment of danger came when Muzzy Izzet fired well wide from long range.

Everton, in contrast, were quicker to the ball and more aggressive - normally the Leicester trademark.

But they suffered a blow after 35 minutes when influential captain Richard Gough limped off to be replaced by David Unsworth.

Jeffers was back on target for Everton

It did not shake Everton out of their stride, and it was no surprise when they doubled their advantage two minutes before half time.

Defender David Weir strode out of defence, and cashed in on the lack of a challenge by sliding the ball through for Campbell to beat Simon Royce.

Leicester boss Taylor made necessary changes at the interval, replacing Steve Guppy and Matt Jones with veteran Italian Roberto Mancini and Darren Eadie.

They steamed into us in the first half and we didn't steam into them, and it cost us

  Leicester manager Peter Taylor

It started to make a difference midway through the second half when Leicester finally exerted pressure on Everton.

New boy Sturridge headed wastefully wide from eight yards as he stole in on the end of Izzet's cross.

And substitute Eadie should have done better than fire across the face of goal after an astute pass from Mancini.

Leicester were given a lifeline with 11 minutes left, when Sturridge made up for his earlier miss by scoring from close-range after Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard failed to hold Gary Rowett's shot.

But they could not grasp the chance as Everton held out to claim the victory.

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Everton: Gerrard, Steve Watson, Naysmith, Ball, Gough, Weir, Hughes, Gemmill, Gravesen, Jeffers, Campbell. Subs: Myhre, Unsworth, Moore, Cadamarteri, Tal.

Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Taggart, Impey, Jones, Robbie Savage, Izzet, Lewis, Guppy, Sturridge. Subs: Sinclair, Eadie, Mancini, Benjamin, Price.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville)