Sunderland v Everton
Everton returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light.
Andrew Johnson scored the goal in the second half to secure three more points for The Toffees and yet another Premier League ‘double'.
Everton defended resolutely when they needed to and restricted Sunderland to precious few openings but, unlike the wonderfully entertaining contest between the two sides at Goodison Park earlier in the season, this is highly unlikely to hit the shelves on dvd.
Words like ‘scrappy', ‘untidy' and ‘frustrating' were bandied about freely and regularly in the Press Lounge at half-time and it was difficult to throw anything original into any of the conversations.
Everton score the first goal
Neither side looked remotely likely to break a solid deadlock until the closing minute of the half when a header from Tim Cahill was diverted against the post by Anthony Stokes.
Sunderland exerted a few minutes of sustained pressure mid-way through but even then, Tim Howard was never seriously threatened.
Phil Jagielka marshals Kenwyne Jones
The opening goal came in the 56th minute and it was entirely fitting that it was a scrappy affair.
The delivery from the left by Mikel Arteta was excellent but as Tim Cahill and Andrew Johnson leapt to make contact, the ball appeared to hit the latter on the elbow and loop over Craig Gordon into the net.
It was a lead that the Blues just about deserved...although it still didn't really ignite the game.
Former Manchester United team-mates Kieran Richardson and Phil Neville tried to enliven things with a midfield fall-out that ended with a petulant shove from the Sunderland man, but nobody took much notice and the tedium continued.
Mikel Arteta tries to shrug off Danny Collins
Roy Keane introduced substitute Andy Reid mid-way through the second period to add some craft to his team. Reid may look as though he's on-loan from a Liverpool Sunday League side but there is no doubt that he is a fine player and he teed up Michael Chopra with a clever reverse pass in the 75th minute that left the Black Cats striker with a clear view of the goal.
Not for the first time this season, Everton were grateful for a superb block tackle from Phil Jagielka.
With four minutes remaining, David Moyes gave 16-year old Jack Rodwell his Premier League debut as one of a double substitution. The youngster replaced a visibly tiring Tim Cahill, who had got through a mountain of midfield work, and at the same time Victor Anichebe came on for Yakubu.
In stoppage time, Sunderland almost grabbed a dramatic equalizer when Reid floated a splendid direct free-kick over the Everton wall but Tim Howard sprung acrobatically to his left to make a world-class save.
It was a stop worthy of a far better match but it could prove to be invaluable when the end of the season comes around.
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