Sunderland 1 Everton 1

Dec 27 2009 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

Everton chief David Moyes named the same starting eleven that began last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Birmingham.

Sunderland came at Everton right from the off and Bent steered a free-header from eight yards wide of the top left-hand corner with less than six minutes gone.

A couple of minutes later, Leon Osman clipped the outside of the right-hand post with a sidefoot shot from the edge of the area for the visitors.

And then ex-Newcastle man Louis Saha missed the target with two low shots in as many minutes, his first going wide of the right-hand post and dragging his second wide of the left-hand upright.

But Sunderland immediately hit back, with Jones collecting a pass from Steed Malbranque on his chest and holding off Lucas Neill before turning and hitting a low shot straight at Tim Howard.

But Sunderland took the lead seconds later, with Jones and Bent combining brilliantly.

A long ball forward was nodded down by Bent to Jones out on the right and the big striker strode forward before delivering a precision cross for into the path of his strikepartner, with Bent heading powerfully down and into the net from 10 yards out.

And Bent was a fraction away from doubling that lead four minutes later when Jordan Henderson got to the byline down the right and cut the ball back to the striker at the near post. The striker’s low shot beat Howard and was destined for the net – until it hit Lucas Neill on the line and stayed out.

Saha sent a volley just wide of the right-hand post early in the second half, then on the hour Bent chose the wrong option as he raced forward through a stretched Everton defence, playing in sub Bolo Zenden to his right when Henderson was free to his left. Zenden’s shot was easily saved.

Sunderland’s best chance to kill the game off came in the 68th minute when Da Silva met Reid’s left-wing free-kick at the far post, but his powerful header was tipped over the bar by Howard.

From that moment on, Sunderland defended deeper and deeper and Everton started to apply pressure.

Saha scuffed a shot across the face of goal on 75 minutes and the Wearsiders found themselves penned in their own half.

Referee Martin Atkinson missed what looked like a clear handball by Cana inside the box five minutes from time – but seconds later the ball was in the back of the Sunderland net.

Tony Hibbert crossed the ball in from the right, it took a touch off a defender at the near post and it came to Fellaini six yards out. He controlled it and lashed the loose ball past the Marton Fulop, who had no chance.

Everton continued to push and looked the more likely side to snatch a winner in the final minutes, but Sunderland hung on.