Everton hung onto their unbeaten home league record, and ended Derby's mini-revival at Goodison Park.

For Everton, it was just the confidence booster they needed with next weekend's FA Cup quarter final against Aston Villa on the horizon.

But Derby, now battling for their lives, went agonisingly close to a point in yet another last ditch recovery act.

Derby were two down at the break through Joe-Max Moore and a Michael Ball penalty, but refused to fold and an Avi Nimni strike after 58 minutes gave them hope.

But this time the Midlanders couldn't pull off the miracle recovery act, and Everton won for the third time on the trot.

And in American Moore, scoring for the third game on the trot, they have uncovered a excellent addition to their strike power.

His industry and pace, plus eye for goal, will give boss Walter Smith plenty to think about as he decides whether to recall teenage star Francis Jeffers next week or leave the 28-year-old from New England Revolution in the side for the biggest game of his career.

Derby started with purpose, cohesion and Georgi Kinkladze's invention. The last time his twinkling feet were seen in these parts was when he was a hero at Manchester City, and he made the most of a rare start for him in Derby's midfield.

Everton struggled to get going as they were pressed back by a Derby side looking confident and focused after five games unbeaten.

But despite having much of the territorial advantage, they couldn't produce clear cut chances.

Everton these days don't waste such generosity from opponents, and their more direct style slowly started to seize the initiative.

The fact that Derby had so much of the ball and created so little with it showed from only having one serious shot in the first half, Thomas Myhre diving to his left to push away a low drive from Stefano Eranio after Craig Burley had sent him clear in the box.

Tony Dorigo got himself booked for a bad foul on Danny Cadamarteri after 23 minutes, and the tide was turning.

A minute later Everton were ahead. Referee Uriah Rennie played an excellent advantage when Nicky Barmby was fouled, and the ball was fed brilliantly by Mark Pembridge out on the right.

Moore raced into the box to crash a right footer past Mark Poom for his fourth goal in five games.

Cadamarteri had been given little chance to repeat the fine wingplay of the previous weekend's win at Wimbledon, being forced back to contain Dorigo's runs from wingback for much of the half.

But when Kevin Campbell finally released the teenager, it needed a timely interception from Jacob Laursen to stop an angled cross reaching Moore.

In first half injury time Rennie awarded a penalty when Spencer Prior looked to catch Richard Gough in the face with his arm in the box. He didn't produce a card, but Michael Ball stepped up to slam home the penalty.

Derby boss Jim Smith made drastic half-time changes by leaving both his strikers, Dean Sturridge and Branko Strupar in the dressing room at the break and sending out substitutes Malcolm Christie and Marvin Robinson as a new strike force.

Cadamarteri was booked after 54 minutes for bringing down Dorigo in full flow as Derby battled to get back into the game. Three minutes later Dorigo limped off to be replaced by Nimni.

But between the two incidents Derby had a strong case for a penalty turned down after David Weir had shoved Christie off the ball as the substitute had jinked past the defender in the box and been flattened on the byline as he tried to centre.

Seconds later Derby did get their goal. Kinkladze sent Nimni clear on the left and he sidefooted the ball past Myhre.

Everton should have restored their two goal lead a minute later when Campbell set up Barmby dead centre, 12 yards out, but somehow he managed to scoop his shot wide.

Burley, for dissent, and substitute John Collins - on now for Cadamarteri to strengthen the midfield - for a foul on Eranio, were both booked as the action really started to hot up.

Barmby had another chance to settle things racing in from the left, but Poom made an excellent reflex save.

Barmby then turned provider, feeding Campbell, whose shot was blocked again by Poom.

But Derby, who produced such a wonderful two-goal comeback to snatch a point last weekend against Sheffield Wednesday, staged another dramatic, nerve-racking bid for salvation.

They pummelled away at Everton's massed defence, but just couldn't get the run of the ball needed to grab an equaliser.

Ball was booked for holding down Christie after 84 minutes with Derby still fighting desperately for a point.

Seth Johnson then went into the book in injury time for a foul on Barmby, and somehow Everton survived.

Teams:

Everton: Myhre, Ball, Gough, Weir, Dunne, Barmby, Pembridge, Hutchison, Cadamarteri (Collins 62), Campbell, Moore.

Subs Not Used: Watson, Jeffers, Xavier, Simonsen.

Booked: Cadamarteri, Collins, Ball.

Goals: Moore 24, Ball 45 pen.

Derby: Poom, Dorigo (Nimni 58), Laursen, Elliott, Eranio, Prior, Johnson, Burley, Kinkladze, Strupar (Robinson 46), Sturridge (Christie 46).

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Riggott.

Booked: Dorigo, Burley, Johnson.

Goals: Nimni 59.

Att: 33,268

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).