Everton No2 Steve Round was delighted with their friendly victory over Birmingham City.
The Championship club were on top before the break but impressive strikes from Leighton Baines and the returning Louis Saha proved good enough before Adam Rooney pulled a goal back with 12 minutes to play.
And Round was pleased to see the Blues tested ahead of their Premier League opener against Tottenham on August 13.
"It was a tough first half and I thought we looked a little bit lethargic coming off the back of a hard week's training and a tour in the US which maybe left a little bit in the legs," Round told evertontv.
"But once we got through that I thought we controlled the second half and ran out deserved winners.
"I thought first half they caused us a few problems, they looked bright and lively and had some good movement - it was a great game for our defenders and for Tim Howard because if you control the game for 90 minutes you never get worked and we know in the first game against Spurs we are going to get worked," he added.
