Everton 1 Stoke City 0: match report It appeared to be a favourable time to visit Goodison Park with Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar banned and Moyes forced to change to an unfamiliar 3-5-2 due to his lack of personnel. The manner in which Stoke started would have accentuated Moyes" concerns. The visitors" almost led within three minutes from a familiar source, Ryan Shotton's extended chuck-in finding the head of Robert Huth who forced Tim Howard, back from injury, into an excellent save. Jon Walters was unfortunate his effort from the rebound bounced onto the bar. Once the first half settled, Mirallas was playing like a man possessed with the confidence he showed prior to his hamstring injury early in the season. His goal opened up his box of tricks, his tendency to over-elaborate with a flick and twist too many as plain as his natural ability. He worryingly departed 10 minutes from time looking forlorn, having appeared to tweaked his groin. Pulis would no doubt ask how the winger was allowed to run 80 yards to score without so much as a professional foul to worry about, but it was nonetheless a thrilling moment out of keeping with what had gone before. Howard displayed more acrobatics to push a Walters strike from distance wide five minutes before the interval, but there is such predictability about how Stoke play - and how their manager theatrically indulges in a tantrum if he's denied as little as throw-in on his own halfway line - it's hard to feel either too endeared, nor sympathetic when they toil. They'll probably survive by virtue of the fact there are three worse teams in the league, but their vertical drift in 2013 is reflective of the fact they've relied on a single dimension for too long. Corners, free-kicks and throw-ins remained their aspiration in the second half, the occasional nod on from target man Peter Crouch to scurrying strike partner Cameron Jerome the most feasible possibility of a goal in open play. There was a flurry of set-pieces to keep their hopes intact, one of which should have yielded a headed equaliser for Huth on 56 minutes. Shotton missed an easier chance from an excellent Marc Wilson delivery five minutes later, the second half arousing greater urgency in the visitors and anxiety in the hosts. For Moyes, the disenchantment following the FA Cup exit here three weeks ago has subsided. The Everton manager has ensured Arsenal and Chelsea are still looking over their shoulder, while Pulis left Goodison Park still increasingly aware of exactly what is gathering over his.