Sunderland were held to a one all draw with Everton on Boxing Day at the SOL as the Toffees grabbed a late leveller through Marouane Fellaini whose volley five minutes from time cancelled out Darren Bent’s first half header. In truth it was no more than Everton deserved as they dominated the majority of the game in freezing conditions and in front of a sell out crowd.

With injuries and some ludicrous suspensions Steve Bruce was forced into more changes and we lined up with Fulop in goal behind a back four of McCartney, Da Silva, Mensah and Bardsley. In midfield Malbranque, Henderson, Cana and Reid, with Jones and Bent up front. Although Everton are depleted with injuries they still boasted a decent line up including Tim Cahill who always seems to score against us. Before kickoff there was the traditional minutes silence for everyone who’s sadly passed away this past year which was impeccably observed.

We had the first effort on goal when Bent’s header looped over but after that we were on the back foot as Everton pressed. They went close when Pienaar curled a shot off the post and then Saha fired a couple of low shots just past the post.

Despite Everton’s early dominance we took the lead with a great goal midway through the first half. A long ball was flicked on by Bent into the path of Jones on the right wing. The lanky striker then attacked the by line before delivering an inch perfect cross for Bent to finish the move he started with a great header into the corner.

The goal boosted Sunderland and we started playing some better stuff whilst Mensah and Da Silva started to get to grips with Saha. Andy Reid went close at the end of the half with a free kick that was headed off the line and we went in one up.

After the break Everton came out of the blocks a lot quicker and we were sluggish and sitting back too deep. As the game went on we sat deeper and deeper and you could sense what was coming as Everton kept us pinned back and went close on a few occasions through Saha and Cahill.

Everton had a big penalty shout dismissed for a handball by Henderson when the youngster cleared Hibberts shot much to the disgust of unused sub Phil Neville. Neville’s behaviour was terrible in the second half as he ran up and down with the linesman constantly in his ear moaning about decisions.

Our best chance of the second half was created by Andy Reid whose deep cross was met by Da Silva but the defenders header was well saved by Tim Howard. We had another good break when Bent, Henderson and Zenden broke but Bent chose not to pass to Henderson who was in acres of space and the move broke down.

As full time approached Everton continued to dominate and grabbed their equaliser from a corner. The cross wasn’t dealt with and it fell to Fellaini about ten yards out and he made no mistake blasting past Fulop to seal the point. Henderson had a late effort go wide in injury time but if anyone looked like nicking a winner it was Everton.

Final Score: Sunderland 1 Everton 1

ALS Man of the Match: Paulo Da Silva – just edges out John Mensah who didn’t last the 90

Aidan Crowe

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