The youngster also drew a brave save from Boro keeper Turnbull as he sought to convert another probing Pienaar pass late on, and deserved the post-match praise from his manager.

Given the dependency on midfielders in the starting line-up, Everton had no trouble in gaining and retaining possession but, with no natural striker in their ranks, were often hampered by a lack of outlet up top and a cutting edge.

Instead, Moyes sought once more to capitalise on the aerial threat of Fellaini and Cahill, only for their tactic to be thwarted time and again by the pernickety officiating of Mike Riley.

Pienaar had a goal chalked off in the 10th minute after Joleon Lescott was adjudged to have fouled Turnbull, and that set the tone for a poor performance from Riley, who bewildered both sets of supporters with his attempts to turn the game into a non-contact sport.

Fellaini fell foul of the referee’s over-officious ways when cautioned for persistent fouling, a ninth booking in 15 Premier League appearances to leave the Belgian one yellow card away from a two-match suspension.

That, though, didn’t prevent Fellaini being one of several players to post an impressive contribution in an overall excellent display from Everton.

The stellar performer was Pienaar, who came closest during the first half when he struck the post with an angled drive from Cahill’s lay-off, after which Phil Neville skimmed a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards after being allowed to advance from central midfield.

Gosling’s shot was deflected wide after Mikel Arteta and the lively Leighton Baines – making a first start in more than two months – had opened up the Boro right, before Lescott succeeded only in clearing the ball while trying to help Cahill’s header past Turnbull from an Arteta corner.

At the other end, Everton needed Tim Howard to be at his best to avoid going behind in the 33rd minute, the goalkeeper diving to his right to save Gary O’Neil’s snapshot after Stewart Downing’s corner was only partially cleared.

But the goalkeeper was an otherwise chilly observer as an atrocious Boro rarely threatened Everton’s dominance.

The visitors’ reward came five minutes into the second half. Turnbull did well to keep out Cahill’s initial header from an Arteta left-wing corner and Lescott’s follow-up but couldn’t prevent Cahill rattling home the rebound.

The natives became restless, particularly when Boro manager Gareth Southgate hauled off Tuncay for Afonso Alves.

The Brazilian soon hit the deck in theatrical fashion in seeking a free-kick from Neville which, if not deserving of a yellow card, then certainly deserved a pantomime booking.

Fellow substitute Adam Johnson was clearly taking notes when, moments after his arrival, he was rightly booked for falling to the ground far too easily inside the area under the weight of an Arteta tackle.

It illustrated the desperate measures Boro were being forced to take by a miserly Everton defence.

And when Alves volleyed hopelessly over from close range in the closing moments, a merry Christmas was assured for the visiting team and their loyal followers.