Match Summary

Phil Neville: His second double-yellow card keeps him out for the next two games

With Arteta and Neville suspended for their derby-day exuberances, David Moyes was forced to bring in Osman and McFadden as starters., with Kevin Kilbane making his return to The stadium of Light for the first time since joining Everton.  Alan Stubbs was on the bench for Sunderland.

The game could only start after yet another minute's silence (whatever for this time?) — the whole business is getting ridiculous, is it not? 

Everton started brightly but a quick free-kick for Sunderland was taken quickly and a cross was put in early behind Yobo that needed a vital touch from Valente to prevent a chance for the Black Cats.

Osman was lively and made a good shot  from distance off a good McFadden long throw that forced Davis to save for a corner.  Another threat from the corner saw Davis nick the ball off Cahill's head as Everton pushed hard for the opening goal.  But Sunderland showed some life, with Lawrence forcing Martyn to save from distance.  Hibbert as then skinned by Hoyte but the danger was dealt with.

Everton had a good set-piece chance but Beattie's execution of the free-kick was poor, the ball hitting the wall, and McFadden's follow-up was not good enough to create a chance. 

Kilbane got loose down the left and Breen took him out from behind for a yellow card.  But Valente's free-kick was atrocious, leading to pressure on Everton and Sunderland's first corners but Everton defended them both effectively.  Le Tallec came on for the ineffective Gray with Mick McCarthy perhaps sensing Everton's vulnerability to pace.

There was more urgency and energy coming from Everton, with the defence and midfield playing further up the field and putting some worthwhile pressure on a fragile Sunderland side. But weaknesses were still evident in the Everton defence, especially in the moments before the break.  A Sunderland corner needed more strong defending. 

David Moyes made a rare and remarkable early substitution at half-time, bringing on Marcus Bent in place of McFadden but it did not have the immediate desired effect, with Sunderland showing a lot more life after the break.  One attack needed a determined block by Valente to prevent a goal-bound shot as Everton started the second half very sloppily.  A good ball in from Lawrence saw an excellent header form Le Tallec superbly saved by Nigel Martyn.  Lawrence had another pop at Martyn that went wide as Everton could not rouse themselves for the second half.

Nigel Martyn put the ball out with a Sunderland player down; Sunderland took the throw and Stead had a pop at Martyn's goal!  Everton were furious but the ref had not stopped play... Le Tallec being the difference between these sides. 

Duncan Ferguson came on fro the last 25 mins in place of Simon Davies, who had earlier gone over on his ankle.  But it was Sunderland who again almost scored, a fierce shot from Stead fizzing just wide.

It took Everton 20 mins to show some inventiveness going forward.  Some good work by Beattie got the ball out wide to Bent but his cross was worthless, far way from Ferguson.  A possible Cahill handball inside the Everton area went unpunished (luck going our way for once?) as Osman and Bent went on the break but Bent collapsed in a heap and failed to get the free-kick, much to his frustration. 

A good chance for Everton came off a great corner but Bent's shot was smothered by Davis, with Osman's follow-up shot screwing wide.  An optimistic 35-yd free-kick from Beattie flew a yard wide.   But it was nervy stuff up the other end with just 10 mins left on the clock, Everton going to 4-3-3 in an effort to construct a late goal, but it was giving too much space to Sunderland's midfield to exploit.

Beattie did well to challenge for a ball and drive into the area, winning a corner.  The ball pinged around the area among the Everton players but eventually it went out for a Sunderland goal kick as time ticked away.  Sunderland then responded, with Arca getting in a fierce shot across the face of Martyn's goal! 

Everton kept trying to create right to the end with Beattie of all people lofting long throws into the Sunderland area.  A late corner deep into injury time was swung over from Kilbane and Tim Cahill, who had been next to useless for the entire match,  came from nowhere to head the ball firmly into the back of the net!  Miracle of miracles!

It had been an awful second half for Everton to be honest, but a marvelous finish gives Everton a vital three points from an amazing last-ditch smash and grab. 

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Oh dear, oh dear.  It says something when a visit to a team that has picked up just six points in 18 games has become the acid test for your season.   Yet, that's where Everton find themselves on the eve of their trip to struggling Sunderland, knowing that defeat against the side that is already destined to return to The Championship will be a new low for an already miserable campaign.

Four straight defeats and 13 goals conceded has left the Blues in desperate straits and ratcheted the clamour for David Moyes's head up a few more notches.  This match against the Black Cats and the home clash with Charlton Athletic have taken on massive importance and the response from manager, players and fans alike is going to be crucial.

Following their respective double-yellow cards in Wednesday's derby defeat, Mikel Arteta and Phil Neville are ruled out through suspension, which more or less makes Kevin Kilbane, Leon Osman, Tim Cahill and Simon Davies the automatic quartet in midfield if the latter is passed fit despite a sprained ankle and assuming that James Beattie and James McFadden start up front.

At the back, Per Krøldrup is unlikely to have recovered from the ankle injury he picked up at Aston Villa and Nuno Valente picked up a similar knock against Liverpool. So, while Joseph Yobo will play through his shoulder injury again and partner David Weir in the centre, Moyes may have to employ Matteo Ferrari at left back despite the Italian apparently unsettled on Merseyside and desperate to return home.

This, the last match of a year that promised so much but has dumped the club back on its backside, will be a fair indicator of the level of Moyes's control over his team's destiny.  The Blues have to approach this one in the frame of mind that losing to Sunderland is unthinkable.  The strategy should be one of doing what has been more successful for them this season; namely, getting the ball wide and down the flanks to fire crosses in from the byline, and relying on aerial power at set pieces.

They should also bear in mind that, were it not for horrendous lapses at the back and in central midfield, they might well have picked up four draws instead of their last four losses.  Everton are a far better side than recent form suggests; it's time to prove it against the worst defence in the division.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

This will be the 160th meeting between Everton and Sunderland in all competitions and the 143rd League meeting between the sides.  This will also be the 78th meeting at Sunderland and the 72nd in the League.

\Everton's full record against Sunderland is:

Our record away to Sunderland is:

There have been 10 Everton hat-tricks against Sunderland over the years, all scored by 10 different players, with the last one being Tony Cottee’s 4-goal haul in the 4-1 Zenith Data Systems Cup win on 22 January 1991.  The last league hat-trick against Sunderland was scored by Johnny Morrissey in another 4-1 home win on 16 May 1967.  In fact, all 10 hat-tricks have been scored at home.

The most common victory for Everton is 1-0, which has happened 12 times in Everton's 68 victories.  Sunderland’s most common victory over Everton is shared between 1-0 and 2-1, both of which have happened 11 times each in their 66 victories. The most common draw between the sides is 1-1, which has happened 9 times in the 25 draws between the sides.

Everton's record for 31 December is:

This is the first time the clubs have met on this day.  Everton’s last match on this day was in 1994, when Ipswich Town were defeated 4-1 at Goodison Park with the goals coming from a Paul Rideout brace, Dave Watson and Duncan Ferguson.  The last time Everton played away on this date was in 1966 when Harry Catterick’s side drew 0-0 at Anfield.

Ted Critchley was born on this day in 1903 in Ashton-under-Lyne.  Signed from Stockport County in December 1926, Ted took over from Sam Chedgzoy up front, and was finally replaced by Albert Geldard.  However, in that time, Ted managed to gain two Championship medals and a Second Division medal.  He missed out on an FA Cup winners medal after being dropped in favour of Geldard for the final.  Ted made 229 appearances, and scored 42 goals, before he moved on to Preston North End in June 1934.

Alan Hampson was also born on this day in 1927 in Prescot.  Alan signed professional forms in August 1949, but only made 1 first team appearance before moving on to Halifax Town in November 1952.

Ken Birch was another ex-Everton player who was born on this day in 1933 in Birkenhead.  Signing professional forms for Everton in August 1951, Ken made just 45 appearances, and scored 1 goal, before he moved to Southampton in March 1958 fro £6,000.  Later on in his career, he made in the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Bangor City.

Graham Williams was also born on this day in 1935 in Southsea (near Wrexham).  Everton paid Bradford City £5,000 in March 1956 as cover for Tommy Eglington, however, Graham made just 33 appearances and scored 6 goals before moving on almost 3 years later to Swansea Town.

Ibrahima Bakayoko makes up the ex-Everton quintet born on 31 December.  Born in 1976 in Seguela, Ivory Coast, Bakayoko was signed from Montpellier for £4.5M in October 1998.  Making 28 appearances and scoring 7 goals, Bakayoko was then sold on to Marseille for £4M just 8 months later in June 1999.

Steve Flanagan

Match Report

May appear here later

Paul Traill

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