Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Pride Park Stadium

Derby returned to the bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat at home to Everton coupled with Bolton's 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

Goals in each half from Mikel Arteta and Yakubu - both bearing plenty of similarities - were enough for the Toffees to secure all three points at Pride Park.

Tim Howard was only seriously threatened once, by Stephen Pearson's low 25-yarder in the first half, while Giles Barnes got 90 minutes under his belt in his first start since April.

But the draw earned by Bolton up at the Reebok Stadium saw them move level on points with the Rams, but the two teams swapped positions due to Derby's inferior goal-difference.

Giles Barnes was called in for his first start of the season as the Rams returned to action at home for the first time in a month.

The teenage star's appearance was the only change from the side that drew 0-0 at Fulham a week ago with Dean Leacock among the substitutes after struggling with a groin injury in recent days.

Barnes was immediately in the action with a clever through-ball to Matt Oakley but the game's first chance fell to Everton.

Mikel Arteta's incisive pass split the Derby defence and sent Leighton Baines scampering away down the left where he pulled back low for Tim Cahill, who could only side-foot the ball straight at Stephen Bywater.

A seventh-minute challenge on Barnes saw the game's first yellow card as referee Steve Bennett reached into his pocket to punish Phil Jagielka for a wild lunge that hacked the Derby youngster down.

Everton were playing some nice football in the early stages with Cahill again threatening from ex-Ram Lee Carsley's cross.

The returning Australian international rose well some six yards out but couldn't direct his header on target.

Derby's best move of the first 20 minutes involved Craig Fagan, Oakley and Barnes, whose deft flick sent Tyrone Mears charging into the box but the full-back lost his footing at the vital moment and the chance was lost.

But the visitors went in front on 24.

Jagielka's straight ball forward was dummied by Yakubu, leaving Oakley and Darren Moore trailing in his wake, and Arteta ran on to it.

Mikel Arteta opens the scoring. Picture by EMPICS Sport

The Spaniard had plenty of time to compose himself as he made ground into the Derby box before slipping his finish comfortably past Bywater.

It was a blow to Derby, who had started to find their feet after a slow opening to the game.

Tim Howard was called into serious action for the first time on 35 minutes as Stephen Pearson strode forward and drove in a low 25-yarder that the American dived right to gather.

Moore was next to be cautioned, for a late challenge on Baines, though the experienced stopper had reason to be disappointed with the decision as he blocked the ball away with his chest before the pair collided.

It had been a half of few serious chances but those that did come were registered in the visitors' column.

Baines didn't return for the second half and was replaced by Alan Stubbs, with Joleon Lescott moving across to the left.

And the visitors almost doubled their lead three minutes in through Joseph Yobo, who rose highest to meet an Arteta corner but planted his header just past the post.

Derby's first change of the afternoon came on 56 minutes and it signalled their intent to try and recover a losing position as Eddie Lewis was replaced by record signing Robert Earnshaw.

He was given a warm reception by the majority of the 33,048 crowd - the highest for a league game at Pride Park since 33,297 saw Everton's last visit in March 2002.

And there was an equally warm reception for Steve Howard when he entered proceedings just after the hour to take the place of Fagan.

But within seconds the visitors had doubled their lead.

There were similarities to the first goal as a ball forward from Steven Pienaar split the Derby defence, leaving Yakubu the time and space to advance before slipping the ball past Bywater.

Yakubu makes it two for the visitors. Picture by EMPICS Sport

Derby almost found a way back into things on 68 as Jay McEveley's 25-yard free-kick was blocked but came back to Barnes, who drove in a left-footer that deflected off Earnshaw and span away just past the post with Howard beaten.

Kenny Miller's afternoon came to an end on 78 minutes as he was replaced by David Jones and left the field a little gingerly, appearing to be holding his hamstring.

Everton were able to rest Yakubu and Cahill for the last few minutes as youngster Victor Anichebe and Scotland star James McFadden got a taste of the action.

They saw out their victory quite comfortably.

DERBY: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, McEveley, Fagan (S Howard 61), Oakley (C), Pearson, Lewis (Earnshaw 61), Barnes, Miller (Jones 78).

SUBS: Price (GK), Leacock.

EVERTON: T Howard, Baines (Stubbs HT), Yobo (C), Lescott, Arteta, Jagielka, Cahill (McFadden 84), Pienaar, Osman, Yakubu (Anichebe 80), Carsley.

SUBS: Wessels (GK), Gravesen.

ATTENDANCE: 33,048 (2,822 visiting fans).