Peter Reid is an Evertonian

Despite their frequency, a minute's silence prior to kick-off is always sobering.  This time it was in memory of dead kids, two murdered, one a player's baby.  Only an ill-timed mobile phone ring filled the air.  The whistle went to signal the moments end.  The silence shattered.  Minds returned to the great escapism of football.

The team returned to 4-4-2.  Wright was a man with something to prove.  Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir and Naysmith took the back line.  Pembridge deservedly kept his place to combine with Gravesen, Li Tie and Alexandersson who was introduced as a starter at the expense of Rooney.  Campbell and Radzinski up front.

One of the more satisfying things about the day's eventual outcome was that we only actually played for 75 minutes.  I'll swear for the first quarter of an hour we didn't even start.  It looked like we had come for a hiding.  First blood seemed certain to go to the Mackems.  How they didn't score is beyond me � this culminated in Phillips, from point blank range, firing into Wright.  Wright couldn't hold it (would have been special if he had), the rebound dropped back to Phillips five yards out with Wright prostrate in front of him.  He hit the bar.  What a let-off!

And then Everton woke up.  And you know what?  We were Ok.  The midfield tackled and supported well, neat passing between all; Campbell held the ball up; Radzinski ran ragged and freaked them out with his pace; Pembridge fired in some good corners.  We more than held our own.

So it was deserved when the goal came.  Simple stuff.  Gravesen, drifting wide, put a diagonal ball into the box; Radzinski knocked it into the path of Campbell who was where he should be, swung his leg and put it in.  Kevin is a confidence player.  The goal was just what the Doctor ordered.

The rest of the chances in the half were long-range efforts: a couple for us from the impressive Li Tie, and a couple for them from one-time Blue-boy, Gavin McCann.  Tie had us worried after he over-enthusiastically chased a hospital ball and spent a long time down after the inevitable clash.  He got up on his feet as if nothing had happened after quite a bit of treatment which meant he was targeted as an actor by the Sunderland Boo boys for his remaining time on the field.  Anyway; ahead at half time.

In the second half, they came at us in waves for a full half hour.  How we soaked it up is beyond me.  Quinn was thrown on, and seemed to have been on just moments when the woodwork was struck for the third time.

Finally Sunderland seemed to break their demons.  A free kick was floated in.  Wright, who still hadn't inspired confidence at all in the first half, completely flapped at it and put it in our own net.  Heads dropped into hands throughout the away support.  Then there was that magic, slow to catch on, cheer amongst the dejected as people sussed the offside flag was up.  This was at the other end from where we were sitting so I have no idea the justice of this.  What I do know is that Gerrard would have looked attractive had it have stood.

A few minutes can be an age in football.  A second can change everything.  People have moments where they say; 'that' was the turning point.  And so just a few moments after the gaffe was disallowed, Sunderland � still pushing hard � won a penalty. Kevin Phillips took it, and hit it well and true.  Wright guessed the direction, hurled himself at it, adjusted himself in mid-air to get a hand to it and take the sting out, and managed to snatch it out the air as he landed.  A truly fantastic save.  'England's Number One' rang loud across Sunderland's South Stand.

Sunderland had the wind pulled out of their sales. We detected it, and did a professional job in playing out the time. Rooney came on for Alexandersson, and gave us a shining cameo. In one run he picked the ball up on the edge of their box, put his head down and ran diagonally all the way to the wing in their half level with the 18 yard line. No-one could get near him.

Linderoth came on for Tie.  The midfield passing was majestic at times towards the end.  Keep-ball stuff.  Sunderland, emotionally drained, resigned to their fate.  The icing on the cake was reminding all that 'Peter Reid is an Evertonian' and even a nostalgic burst of 'He's fat he's round, he's worth a million pound...'.

Sunderland will look at this game and wonder how the hell they did not get a point at the least.  Still, the truth is they didn't have the character to see their spells of dominance last, and they let their bad luck get their heads down.  Credit to the Blueboys on the day � if you can't be outstanding, then being OK and lucky are the next best thing.  Three points on the board.  Great day out.

Individuals (Hard to write: no real stars or sinners) 

Wright  7 - Still looked dodgy as hell to start with.  Then he made 'that' save.  Hopefully that is his Gremlins out of his system then.

Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Naysmith  7 - A professional job by the back line.  Particularly in the spells when Sunderland were on top.  They weren't broken.  Naysmith still looks so comfortable on the ball bringing it forward, but then lets himself down with the final cross.

Gravesen  7 - Fine.  Sometimes looked to try to take the ball on too far but was having a 'lucky' day and seemed to end up with the ball at his feet despite their best efforts!

Pembridge 7 -  In form.  Will start again on Wednesday.  Best corner taker we've had at the club in recent memory by the way.  Goals will come from these this season.

Alexandersson 6 - Fine, but the least visible of the midfield.

Li Tie 8 - I really, really like this bloke.  Calm, hard working, vision.  Not every pass found its man on the day, but even for those that went astray you could see the intention and the intelligence behind it.  The crowd is currently struggling to get a song that fits his name though.  'One Li Tie' doesn't quite fit.

Radzinski 8 - Shades it for over Tie as man of the match if only as he made the full game.  Tireless work rate, used his pace to open them up a few times, laid on the goal, had a couple of decent chances himself, and looks so sharp.

Campbell 7 - Much better. Held the ball up well, good work rate, was were he needed to be for the goal.

Linderoth 7 - Enthusiastic and immediately got stuck in.

Rooney 8 - OK, so it was brief showing, but he still took the piss and scared the shit out of them. One great run in particular. No coincidence that him coming on about coincides with them starting to look defeated.

Guy McEvoy