Osman keeps Toffees sweet

Leon Osman's seventh goal of the season kept a hugely disappointing Everton in the hunt for a Champions League spot following a 1-0 victory over Derby.

Against already relegated Derby it took a low drive from midfielder Osman in the second half to claim the win.

For Derby may have suffered the quickest relegation from the Premier League but they showed heart and spirit throughout.

Taking them to Marbella this week for warm-weather training may not have been boss David Moyes' best move, because his team looked as if they were dreaming of their sunshine break for long spells.

Derby surprised Everton with their desire to go forward, with Tim Howard only able to palm the ball out from an 18-yarder from Mile Sterjovski after six minutes.

Hossam Ghaly wasted a couple of half-chances that could have been decent openings with greater control but it was Everton's general lethargy that gave Derby hope.

It took a second-half goal from midfielder Osman, his seventh of the campaign, to put the anguished Toffees' fans out of their misery.

The eventual winner did not come until the 56th minute when Manuel Fernandes fired a 30-yard pass from the left into the path of Osman, who took one touch and lashed his shot past an exposed Roy Carroll and all Derby's positive work beforehand looked wasted.

Derby continued to work hard and forced Everton into backs-to-the-wall defending in the closing minutes to keep out their attempts to equalise.

Everton have now cut fourth-placed Liverpool's lead over them to three points, but for long spells it looked as if the Goodison Park club had already thrown in the towel.