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Everton sink Hull

Kingston-Upon-Hull - Everton won 2-0 at FA Cup finalists Hull City on Sunday to end the Premier League season with their highest points tally since they won the title in 1987.

Roberto Martinez's side signed off with a 21st win of the campaign thanks to goals in each half from James McCarthy and Romelu Lukaku, who was making the final appearance of his loan spell from Chelsea.

Everton ended the season in fifth place with 72 points, just seven points below the top four, and will therefore enter next season's Europa League in the play-off round.

It was Hull's fifth game without victory, but Steve Bruce's side finished the season in a creditable 16th place and can now fully turn their attention to next weekend's first FA Cup final appearance against Arsenal.

Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka proved his fitness for England's World Cup campaign by completing 90 minutes, but Ross Barkley, another candidate for inclusion in national coach Roy Hodgson's squad on Monday, was rested.

Hull recalled goalkeeper Allan McGregor after he recovered from three broken ribs and kidney damage sustained in a defeat at West Ham United in March, but he was beaten in the ninth minute.

Steven Naismith freed McCarthy and he dispatched a powerful 12-yard shot that McGregor could not keep out to register his first Everton goal.

Naismith then shot wide with a first-time shot from Gareth Barry's pass, before a low cross from McCarthy narrowly eluded Lukaku.

Lukaku needed only 48 seconds to get on the score-sheet in the second half, however.

Leon Osman's through ball found Lukaku and the Belgium international held off Hull centre-back Paul McShane before rifling home his 15th goal of the campaign.

Hull threatened to claim a consolation in the last 10 minutes, but Curtis Davies put a free header wide from six yards and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard made a sharp save from Robert Koren.

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