If there was any doubt over Everton’s commitment in the final league games of the season, following their shock 2-1 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, it was completely removed today at the Stadium of Light. Everton travelled to the North East to record a 2-0 victory, earned with a terrifically professional performance.
A win for the Toffees was essential, considering West Ham, Manchester City and Tottenham had all took three points in their fixtures yesterday. David Moyes knew a win would not only widen the gap with the chasing pack, but also heap pressure onto Aston Villa, who host the struggling Hull at Villa Park tomorrow night.
It must be highlighted that Sunderland were simply not up for the match, at least, not as much as Everton. Rather surprising, given that Everton already have Europa League football guaranteed next season, whereas Sunderland are still embroiled in a relegation battle.
Sunderland failed to create many opportunities and hold the ball for meaningful periods, but Everton had no such problems. For the first time since Arteta was stretchered off at St. James’ Park, Everton were able to play the game at their own pace and control possession. Jo put in another magnificent shift up front in the hope of a permanent deal, meaning Everton posed Sunderland problems every time they went forward.
A well-worked corner on the 10-minute mark could have given the visitors the lead. Dan Gosling shipped his ball out to the penalty spot, where Cahill flicked the ball goal wards. Lescott was charging down on the ball dangerously in front of Fulop, but the goalkeeper managed to get enough on it. Everton’s set pieces have bore the most fruit out of any Premiership team this season, but given the height and power in the Sunderland team, Everton did not rely on dead ball situations so much today.
One of the most powerful and tallest players in the Sunderland ranks is Kenwynne Jones, and he had an opportunity just seconds after Cahill’s header. He evaded the Everton defence in the penalty area, but, on the stretch, could only manage to blaze his effort over the bar. It was a rare sight at goal for Sunderland, whose strike patnership, of Cisse and Jones, failed to deliver.
Jo, on the other hand, was a handful throughout, and he should have given Everton the lead after a quarter of an hour. After some good link-up play between Baines and Pienaar, the Brazilian was magnificently slipped through on goal. Charging down on Fulop’s goal, he reduced the angle for himself, and could only slice disappointingly wide of the target. Some may criticise Jo’s lack of a clinical touch when presented with goal-scoring opportunities, but the mere fact he finds himself in so many good positions points to the man’s undoubted talents, and inconsistency is something which plagues many young players.
Home-grown talent Grant Leadbitter combined well with Jones thirty yards from goal, and he showed no hesitation in shooting as he tried to test Howard from range. The American, however, remained untested as Leadbitter’s drive was dragged wide of the target. This, and Jones’ early chance, was all the relegation-plagued home side could muster in the first half.
For Everton, it was a different story. Seven minutes from the interval, Pienaar picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired across goal. Youngster Dan Gosling, who was brought in to replace Leon Osman, made contact with the cross-cum-shot, from just two yards out. The ball had different ideas, mind, as it bounced off Gosling’s hip and away from danger.
It was hard to see how Sunderland could play so bad in the second half, and therefore, it seemed Moyes may have ended up ruing the missed opportunities, but it was not to be, as Sunderland managed to played even worse in the second half. This heartless second half showing from the home side only catalysed an Everton side determined to put things right after last week’s disappointment.
One man, in particular, would rise considerably to the occasion. Steven Pienaar revealed in his post-match interview that Moyes has often given him ‘stick’ for not getting enough goals, and despite being the best man on the pitch in the first half, Pienaar still was not content.
Three minutes into the second half, his run married up well with Jo’s pass, leaving him through on goal. Showing terrific graft to outmuscle Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley, Pienaar homed in on goal, before poking the ball underneath Fulop, finishing off a terrific Everton move. The beauty of such a finely-crafted goal was only matched by Pienaar’s acrobatic celebration. It was a lead that Everton thoroughly deserved, as they showed much more ambition and bravery throughout the game.
Sunderland, however, could have undeservedly snatched a goal back within a few minutes. Collins met the ball off a corner, but his powerful header was directed straight at a grateful Tim Howard. Tim Cahill, forever the master of headers, wanted to show Collins how to do it ten minutes later.
Gosling, never afraid of running at players, got down the touchline and pinged a ball towards the back post. Cahill was unmarked and looked set to double Everton’s lead, but the ball took the slightest of touches just before the Australian made contact. It deflected just beyond Cahill’s reach, who could only header high, wide and handsome. It was this slight touch that kept Sunderland in the match for another ten minutes, but then, they were buried.
Jacobsen, making only his fourth appearance this season, chipped a ball down the line towards the man of the match, Steven Pienaar. He picked the ball up and turned towards the Sunderland goal, before picking out Fellaini in the box. The Belgian finished beautifully to tie up the match, and redeemed himself for a previously missed opportunity.
The last thing we saw from Sunderland as an attacking unit came ten minutes from time, and even that was a mistake. Steed Malbranque’s cross-cum-shot almost caught Howard out in the Everton goal, but he punched over for a corner. As excellent and professional Everton were, Sunderland were poor and toothless.
Maybe it speaks of the character of David Moyes’ side that they have gone sixty-two league games without losing consecutive matches. It was the perfect response to an extremely disappointing result and performance last weekend, in which maybe fatigue was a major factor. They looked fresh and potent in the North-East today, as they recorded a priceless win to take fifth place of Villa. Hull travel to Birmingham tomorrow in the knowledge that the Villains will be wanting to reclaim their position as ‘best of the rest’.
Man of the Match: Pienaar (10)
The heart, commitment and most importantly, class, shown by Pienaar today was rewarded with an outstanding goal. Arguably his best performance ever in the blue and white.
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