An instantaneous impact from Everton substitute Steven Pienaar returned the hosts to winning ways and left Hull City manager Steve Bruce cursing the officials.

Pienaar replaced Leon Osman just before the hour mark. Within 30 seconds Pienaar latched on to Kevin Mirallas’s square pass to give his side all three points with his first touch.

Earlier, Mirallas had opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with a low shot from outside the box, which in the opinion of Bruce, hit the offside Gareth Barry, before grazing the post on its way in.

Yannick Sagbo levelled on the half hour, rifling in Sone Aluko’s cross from the by-line from eight yards.

But, the combination of the challenge by Barry on Danny Graham who went off injured, and a “horrific” tackle by the on-loan Manchester City man later on Aluko, should have seen Barry spending the rest of the game in the dressing room.

“He’s nudged the first (goal), standing a yard offside,” said Bruce about Barry’s influence on the opening goal. “(But) the challenge on Aluko is over the ball, he’s lucky to get away with it,” he added.

For Everton boss Roberto Martinez, the match was all about a professional display in a “worrying fixture” and the impact from the bench.

“Whoever is on the bench, they must be ready to come on and make an impact,” said the Spaniard. “Steven Pienaar brings something special to our side.”

Everton extend their unbeaten home record to 13 premier league games, while Hull saw their four-match unbeaten run come to end, but still remain comfortably in mid-table, level on points with champions Manchester United.