STOKE-ON-TRENT: Goals from Victor Moses and Mame Diouf lifted Stoke to a 2-0 win over Everton and up into eighth in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The win kept Mark Hughes side on target for their highest ever league finish, last season's ninth with 50 points.
The Potters are already on 42 points with 10 games of the season remaining.
However, the defeat leaves Everton struggling to avoid getting involved in a battle for survival as they have just one win from their last 12 league outings.
This loss left them in 14th but just six points above the drop zone.
Hughes started Peter Crouch, who had come off the bench to score the only goal in the weekend win over Hull City.
But midfielder Stephen Ireland missed out after needing stitches to a calf injury suffered against Hull.
Everton left-back Leighton Barnes, who was injured for the weekend loss to Arsenal, was replaced once again by Luke Garbutt.
Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan had a right knee injury scare warming-up, but recovered to lead the hosts out.
Moses joined the Potters on loan from Chelsea at the start of the season, with Hughes saying he would like that arrangement to become permanent.
And on 32 minutes, the Nigerian winger put Stoke in front. Phil Bardsley drilled the ball into the area with Moses heading into the top left corner past Everton keeper Tim Howard.
Shortly after the hour, Hughes replaced Crouch with Diouf, and the Senegalese striker put the game to bed in the 84th minute with a close range shot into the bottom right corner after substitute Marko Arnautovic hit the post.
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