Everton secure fifth place with Hull City win

Everton have solidified their fifth-placed finish in the Premier League by signing off the campaign with a 2-0 win away to Hull City this afternoon.

© Getty Images

The Toffees went into their end-of-season clash knowing that sixth-placed Tottenham needed a 19-goal swing in order to finish above the Merseysiders.

However, goals in either half from James McCarthy - his first for the club - and Romelu Lukaku rendered Spurs's win over Aston Villa irrelevant.

The visitors went ahead on nine minutes through McCarthy, who broke his 33-game duck for the club by firing past Allan McGregor from inside the box.

Chelsea loanee Lukaku then marked what is perhaps his final appearance for Everton by doubling the advantage early in the second half, brushing aside Paul McShane to thrash past McGregor.

Aiden McGeady and Seamus Coleman went close to providing a three-goal cushion in the scoreline later in the half, but the misses did not affect the result as the Toffees ended a successful campaign on a high note.