WIGAN chairman Dave Whelan turned 72 yesterday, but David Moyes would be forgiven for probably feeling that age after this Everton performance.

A goal from Henri Camara six minutes into the second half was enough to bring the recent revival from Moyes’s side to a shuddering halt at the JJB Stadium last night.

Camara, who had only come on as a substitute at the interval, was on hand to turn in Antonio Valencia’s cross to halt Everton’s five-game unbeaten run.

It meant the Goodison Park outfit missed the chance to move up into sixth place and close to within two points of the Champions League places.

Everton have produced some impressive comebacks in recent weeks, but there was to be no late show on this occasion with Tim Cahill firing over their best chance in injury time.

Indeed, only the heroics of Tim Howard, the highlight of which was a truly world-class save from Paul Scharner, prevented Moyes’s side from losing by a greater margin.

News of another lengthy spell on the sidelines for the luckless James Vaughan and the sight of Louis Saha hobbling off clutching his hamstring will have only darkened the mood around Goodison this morning.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce conceded after the game that this was perhaps his team’s worst display of the season.

Certainly, a succession of misplaced passes, wayward shots and ineffective tackles did little to warm those – including a once again packed away end – that braved the bitterly cold weather.

But what does that say about Everton’s effort?

A bright opening period apart, the visitors lacked verve and imagination, too many of their players falling well short of the standards they have set themselves in recent weeks.

In particular, Mikel Arteta’s form is now becoming a concern. The Spaniard has, by his own admission, been far from his best this season but this was as worryingly an ineffective performance as he has produced.

With Arteta on the periphery on the left and Cahill starting in an unaccustomed role on the opposite flank, Everton were desperate for genuine width and creativity, the injured Steven Pienaar a major miss.

Arteta, though, wasn’t alone. Joleon Lescott was at fault in the build-up to Camara’s winner while there were lacklustre individual performances throughout. Once Everton went behind, they never really convinced they would equalise.

Other than Howard, the only real positive was the display of Marouane Fellaini, passed fit after recovering from a minor groin strain and encouragingly busy in the centre of midfield.

History had favoured an away win. Everton had never lost at the JJB Stadium while Moyes had been on the losing side just once in 11 previous meetings with Wigan manager Steve Bruce.