Phil Jagielka admits Everton's first win of the season against Birmingham City is a weight off their shoulders.
The Toffees have endured a torrid start to the Premier League season and were the division's basement boys entering Saturday's St Andrews encounter after failing to register a win from their first six games.
But two second-half goals, the first an own goal from Roger Johnson and the second from Tim Cahill's injury-time header, saw David Moyes' side leap off the foot of the table and out of the bottom three and place their Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the relegation zone in the process.
And defender Jagielka, who enjoyed an excellent game at the heart of Everton's defence, was delighted to see his side finally record their first three-point haul of the campaign.
"We played well and created a lot of chances early in the game but unfortunately we didn't take them but after the final whistle we're delighted to get the three points," the Toffees centre-back told Sky Sports.
Of the opener the England international added: "It was probably the worst chance we had but thankfully luck was on our side for the first goal and hopefully it will be a turning point.
"It was an end-to-end game and it's fantastic as a defender to keep a clean sheet and it was nice for Tim to get the second in the last minute."
Everton looked like they turned a corner when they came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Manchester United last month, but the home defeat to Newcastle and the goalless draw at Fulham saw the Toffees sit bottom of the pile.
And Jagielka said of Everton breaking their duck: "We were hoping it would be the case a few games ago but hopefully now that we've got our first win of the season we can kick on from now.
"Most people have seen us start slowly but not quite like this. It was an uncomfortable position to be in, to be October and to have not picked up our first win so all the boys knew we had to turn a corner somewhere."
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