Everton 4 Aston Villa 1: Cahill stimulates resurgent Everton's appetite for Europe

There were fewer more sorrowful sagas than Everton's campaign in Europe last autumn, but like a moth spotting a lighted candle, they are being drawn again towards potential pain. Masochists everywhere can only look and admire.

This was their sixth successive home Premiership win and they are closing in on a Uefa Cup place that seemed an unlikely prospect when two exits from Europe made such an unedifying mess of their start. The sad and disillusioned are suddenly hungry and eager again.

They played well, scoring through Tim Cahill (twice), James McFadden and Leon Osman, but Aston Villa were so feeble that they could have been seriously under the weather and still got three points. Everton are on the rise, Villa, who have suffered three defeats in eight days, cannot stagger to the end of the season soon enough.

"We've been conceding soft goals all season," the Villa manager David O'Leary moaned. "Long balls, set plays, we don't deal with them, and for all our good football going forward, that kicks you in the teeth."

It soon became apparent that Villa had problems with James Beattie, and Everton's first two goals came from his absolute command of the air. The first arrived after 16 minutes when a long free-kick was headed down by the bustling centre-forward and, like last week against Fulham, McFadden was the beneficiary. His aim was low and his half-volley skidded past the diving Thomas Sorensen.

After 22 minutes it was 2-0 when Beattie flicked on Phil Neville's throw-in and McFadden's shot from a narrow angle went under Sorensen's body before lapping against the post. In came Cahill with the force of a mighty wave to thump home.

This was no more than Everton deserved - some of their passing was exemplary - yet the goals had sandwiched an extraordinary 90-second spell when Villa had the ball cleared off the line three times. The first after 18 minutes was a shot on the turn by Steven Davies that was thwarted by Gary Naysmith's run from the left flank. That was followed by McFadden denying Gabriel Agbonlahor and then Cahill appearing behind him when Davies thumped in a follow-up.

It was tough for Villa and it got worse just before half-time. Jlloyd Samuel, a left-back operating on the opposite wing when he had to replace the injured Aaron Hughes, looked like a man in an alien environment when a long pass from Cahill looped beyond him. Mikel Arteta sped past him and crossed to the far post where Osman slid the ball in.

The main problem for Everton in the second half was complacency, and after Cahill and Osman had squandered opportunities, Villa made them pay for their lack of concentration in the 65th minute. A long, hopeful pass was not cleared properly and when it returned to the area. Lee Hendrie was allowed to turn and pass to Agbonlahor, who shot across a less-than convincing Richard Wright into the far corner.

That led to several nervy moments for the home team but when you are as vulnerable as Villa at the moment, damage is only a good pass away from a goal and in the last minute Everton got their fourth. The architect was McFadden, whose delightful flick with his heel gave Cahill the freedom of the area.

"We want O'Leary out," was the response of the Villa fans and if their side become the first to lose at home to Fulham next Saturday they may get their wish. That match could be another monument to pain.