Premier League - Sunderland unstuck at Everton

Eurosport - Sun, 28 Dec 16:28:00 2008

A first-half brace from Mikel Arteta helped Everton to a convincing 3-0 Premier League win over Sunderland at Goodison Park.

FOOTBALL 2008-009 Premier League Everton Mikael Arteta - 0

Youngster Dan Gosling, on as a substitute, completed the scoring late on to seal all three points and register just Everton's second home win of the season.

The result served as a stark reality check for Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia, who had guided the club on an impressive run - two wins, one draw and one defeat - before being given the job on a permanent basis ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

But a disciplined Everton side, still missing their first, second and third-choice strike force, proved too strong for Sbragia's charges, who struggled to create many meaningful attacks for much of the afternoon.

It was however, Sunderland who started the brighter, Djibril Cisse warming Tim Howard's hands with a shot on target soon after the opening whistle.

But the visitors went a goal down after just 10 minutes, Arteta drilling a well-struck free-kick past Marton Fulop following Kieran Richardson's foul on Leon Osman 25 yards out.

Fulop was beaten for a second time before the half-hour mark was reached, the goal again coming from an Arteta dead ball. The Spaniard fired a free-kick from a similar distance towards goal only this time to see his effort repelled by the wall.

But by the time the ball had rebounded to the Spaniard, who hit it back towards goal with a first-time volley, the wall had disintegrated; Teemu Tainio stuck out a foot in a bid to make a block but only succeeded in diverting the ball past a wrong-footed Fulop.

Sunderland twice went close to equalising with the score at 1-0, Nyron Nosworthy heading over from Richardson's free-kick five minutes after the opener went in and Kenwyne Jones flicking a header inches past the post on 23 minutes.

But Everton enjoyed the better of the opening period and could have netted a third before the half-time whistle sounded. Only a poor near post header by Tim Cahill, again playing as a makeshift striker in the continued absence of the injured Yakubu, Louis Saha and James Vaughan, kept Sunderland's hopes alive.

Sbragia made a change at the break, bringing on Carlos Edwards for Steed Malbranque although the move failed to spark the visitors to life. A dashing 63rd minute run and shot aside, neither the Trinidadian, nor fellow later substitutes David Healy or Dwight Yorke, could change the pattern of the game.

And Everton put the visitors to the sword on 83 minutes when Gosling - on as a 69th minute replacement for Osman - opened his Toffees account with a clinical finish from Joleon Lescott's cross to the far post.

The goal gave Everton renewed vigour and they went close to adding a fourth as time ran out, Phil Neville launching a terrific shot that went just over the bar before Steven Pienaar was denied late on by Fulop.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. i just want to say what a great job david moyes is­ doing at everton, without his strickers. from an­ arsenal fan

    From matthewmcinerney, on Sun 28 Dec 9:48PM

  2. Michael b why dont you zip it before a Machem puts his­ boot in it because you mouth is bigger than any mine­ ive been in even down your wifes nickers

    From kevin swindle, on Sun 28 Dec 9:22PM

  3. This is what happens when the sunderland owner gives­ the players control of the dressing room.

    From , on Sun 28 Dec 9:12PM

  4. argyle got ripped off only receiving 1million this lad­ has a great future

    From Robert, on Sun 28 Dec 9:07PM

  5. well done everton, especially dan gosling,ex plymouth­ argyle player

    From Robert, on Sun 28 Dec 9:01PM

  6. GOOD CHRIMBO FOR THE TOFFEES NOW LETS PUSH ON FOR­ EUROPE AGAIN

    From john, on Sun 28 Dec 8:38PM

  7. Mikel Arteta good show 2 goals and dan gosling­ sunderland terrible although the game was at goodison­ park....

    From Nath, on Sun 28 Dec 7:07PM

  8. Dear Tony K # 8
    " Back to normal for sunderland,­ no surprises here. I just wish everton had smashed a­ few more in. Bristol city next season mackems, and­ before any of you mention the toon result there are­ several good reasons why that happened, none that i am­ willing to discuss here "

    well let me give you­ one good reason that I am willing to discuss here -­ Newcastle is even crappier than Sunderland - simple as­ that - all those hundreds of millions from the 1990s­ onwards courtesy of that bloke who owned the Gateshead­ Metro Centre, John Hall - and how many trophies do you­ have to show for it in the last 15 years ? absolute­ zero - all p*ssed up the wall by Keegan onwards as it­ was proven time and time again what we all know -­ Geordies have no brains and no bottle - you're not­ even real Geordies anyway - none of you are from­ Asington or Bedlington and the only open mine any of­ you have ever seen is inside your girlfriend's­ knickers.

    From michael b, on Sun 28 Dec 6:26PM

  9. tony k.the reason newcastle were beat 5-1 is they were­ totaly outclassed.i listened to the game and could easy­ have been 8 or 9-1,you can make excuses if you lost 1-0­ 2-1 but 5-1 your deluded,you say this that and tother­ about sunderland but newcastle is just as bad.how to­ silence a geordie,WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME NEWCASTLE WON­ ANYTHING nuff said :)

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Sun 28 Dec 6:07PM

  10. Sunderlands back 4. The only thing in the north east­ thats sloppier than clarerobsons crotch!!!!­ HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

    From Tony K, on Sun 28 Dec 5:06PM

  11. Well done to Dan Gosling...knew he was something­ special, keep it going Dan and you will go­ places.
    Plymouth Argyle fan.

    From paul, on Sun 28 Dec 5:02PM

  12. Back to normal for sunderland, no surprises here. I­ just wish everton had smashed a few more in. Bristol­ city next season mackems, and before any of you mention­ the toon result there are several good reasons why that­ happened, none that i am willing to discuss here

    From Tony K, on Sun 28 Dec 4:49PM

  13. Sunderland could do with a clearout this xmas and­ prepare for the championship

    From Howard, on Sun 28 Dec 4:34PM

  14. listened to the match,sunderland were terrible,1 shot­ at goal.didnt expect them to beat everton but what a­ load of @#$%,can make a excuse for newcastle they were­ up against a red hot liverpool side.piss poor show from­ the north east teams

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Sun 28 Dec 4:20PM

  15. sound

    From allan.cooke, on Sun 28 Dec 4:19PM

  16. Oh, and why wasnt your big mouth motoring on your­ adopted scum page today????
    Scared to mix it with the­ big boys?
    hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

    From The Blake, on Sun 28 Dec 4:11PM

  17. Tony K.
    You havent been hung from a lampost as a spy­ HAVE YOU???????????
    BORO BOY!!!!!!
    SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­ FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From The Blake, on Sun 28 Dec 4:08PM
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