Everton 5 Hull City 1:PHIL BROWN has found purgatory on Merseyside. His previous trek across the M62 ended in a vote of confidence from the Hull City board following a 6-1 rout at Liverpool and, while the days of waiting for the bullet have passed, the torment and doubts over his club's Premier League survival continue. This was a stroll in slippers for Everton, with Mikel Arteta their uncontrollable tormentor-in-chief.

The Spaniard orchestrated an emphatic return to winning ways for David Moyes’ side, who have won six successive league games at Goodison Park – their best sequence in four years.

Arteta scored twice and was only denied a hat-trick when a delicate cross over the goalkeeper was headed into his net by Richard Garcia.

His first goals since rupturing a cruciate ligament last February delighted his watching family. “That is the first time my son (eight-month-old Gabriel) has seen me score and I am so happy for him and my wife after I was out for so long,” he said.

Hull could at least take solace in the return of their own midfield conductor, Jimmy Bullard, upon whom survival arguably rests, but much depends on how quickly he can rediscover full fitness.

It was only Everton’s generosity that spared Hull a more humiliating defeat than at Anfield.

Landon Donovan, on his scheduled final appearance at Goodison before returning to LA Galaxy, drove Leighton Baines’ cross home and then helped complete the rout when he turned a pass into the path of Jack Rodwell, who swept home.

“There is still a chance my loan could be extended,” said Donovan, who is due to leave after next weekend’s game but may stay if the US league’s labour dispute is not resolved. “We will know more this week. I have had a great time, the fans are fantastic and the players are fantastic.”