Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard is full of praise for Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap's scud throw-ins.

"We saw Stoke early on and I said 'I tell you what, this will cause teams havoc for the rest of the season'," Howard told evertonfc.com.

"It's a good weapon. Hats off to Stoke for using it. They've got some criticism but, you know what, if it scores you goals and gets you points, well done.

"With Rory it's fast, it's accurate and it's very flat. It's difficult when a ball is flat because there are many people who can get a touch on it.

"The goalkeeper can get a touch, as we found a defender can get a touch, and when it's inside the six-yard box all it needs is a little deflection and it goes in."

And having had time to reflect on the damage inflicted by Delap, the American says there are only two ways to stop it.

He joked: "Don't kick it out of bounds. Keep the ball on the park. That's the easiest way to do it. That and giving away corners.

"That seems kind of crazy and goes against all defending principles but you've got to fight power with power."