More Everton reax

From the dailies.

Neil Johnston, The Times

It was perhaps inevitable that on a glorious day on Merseyside, Robinho would play an influential role in City’s first away win in the top flight for eight months. Having been accused of going missing too many times during an indifferent first season at City, the Brazil forward basked in the sunshine, scoring the first goal before teeing up Stephen Ireland for the second.

Andy Hunter, The Guardian

Robinho and Stephen Ireland were exquisite, the Brazilian responding to the sun and the solid platform provided by Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong to torment the Everton defence and the Irishman continuing to rise to the presence of his £32.5m team-mate.

Robinho drove the visitors ahead from an awkward angle having been sent clear by a superb first-time pass from Elano. He then showed the vision and execution to pick out Ireland's gallop behind the Everton defence in the second half, the midfielder slipping a nonchalant finish beyond Tim Howard for a deserved victory.

Chris Wheeler, The Daily Mail

If further proof were needed that fortunes can change very quickly in football, it was evident in the performance of City's resident enigma Robinho.

Anonymous away from home for much of the season and dropped to the bench for the first time a fortnight ago after failing to score in 2009, the Brazilian was on the scoresheet for the second time in a week and provided a timely reminder of why City paid a British record £34million for him last summer.

Robinho was simply superb and his link-up play with Stephen Ireland caused Everton constant problems.

James Wrigley, The Independent

Everton were on their way to defeat against a slick City before Jagielka's misfortune. Robinho showed flashes of brilliance and scored the opener after 35 minutes with a neat left-foot finish after being released by Elano. He also laid on the second for Stephen Ireland, floating a pass for the midfielder nine minutes after the restart and his finish dissected Jagielka and Tim Howard.

Derek Allsop, The Daily Telegraph

The Brazilian [Robinho] and his impish accomplice, Stephen Ireland, scored a goal apiece and tormented Everton in a manner that rendered unfathomable some of City’s inept form on the road. Ireland, of course, has been a model of consistency. The revelation on Saturday was Robinho.

If this suggests Robinho may have answered his detractors, Hughes is not holding his breath. “I’m not sure about that. I’m sure he’ll have to keep repeating it. But he looked like he was enjoying himself. He and Ireland were outstanding. They are top quality players.”