The lads tasted defeat at home for the first time in 2008 losing a scrappy game one nil to Everton. Andy Johnson’s second half header was enough to split the sides and leave us hovering precariously over the danger zone.

After managing only a point at Derby last Saturday Roy Keane made three changes to the starting eleven. Out went Reid, Higginbotham and Chopra in came Stokes, Leadbitter and Collins. There was still no place for transfer listed Liam Miller.

The game initially started even with both sides keeping it tight. As a result quality passages of play were few and far between but those on show came from Everton. Despite this neither side managed a decent effort on goal until very late in the half.

Sunderland’s best chance , if you can call it that, came after about half an hour when Murphy’s cross was cleared to the edge of the Everton area. Whitehead coming forward from midfield looked to bury the loose ball but he scuffed his volley.

As the dour first half came to a close Everton almost took the lead from a corner. Arteta’s pinpoint delivery was headed goalwards but somehow Stokes managed to clear the ball off the line, onto the woodwork and away to safety.

Despite his heroics on the line at the end of the half Stokes was replaced at half time by Chopra. The lads started the second half a bit better with Murphy whipping a ball into the box though Jones failed to get onto the end of it.

We were left ruing the missed chance ten minutes later when Everton took the lead. The toffees had us under the cosh for a couple of minutes though Sunderland tried to play their way out of danger when a hoof up field may have been more appropriate. Danny Collins gave the ball away on the left hand side to Hibbert whose cross eventually found its way to the left flank and at the feet of Arteta. He crossed for Johnson who flicked a near post header past Craig Gordon.

With twenty minutes to go Keane brought on Reid for Murphy and then soon after Prica for Leadbitter as Sunderland pushed for an equaliser. Reid carved open a chance for Chopra with ten minutes to go with a great reverse ball. Chopra took a touch before shooting but his effort was blocked by a sliding tackle.

As we headed into injury time Sunderland had their two best efforts on goal. We won a free kick centrally about twenty five yards from goal after Jones was upended. Over the free kick stood Reid, Whitehead and Richardson but it was dead ball specialist Reid who curled a great strike goalwards only to be denied by a great save from Tim Howard. The resulting corner, again taken by Reid, found Jones whose header was cleared off the line by Lescott.

Final Score: Sunderland 0 Everton 1

ALS Man of the Match: Phil Bardsley

Aidan Crowe

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