Sunderland had to settle for a point drawing two’s each with Everton on Monday night at the SOL. Tim Cahill scored first for the toffees before a Danny Welbeck double either side of half time gave the lads the lead. Michel Arteta’s late deflected goal shared the spoils and leaves the lads seventh in the table.

Steve Bruce made two changes to the side that destroyed Chelsea last Sunday and both were enforced as Asamoah Gyan and Titus Bramble both missed out through injury and in came Darren Bent and Anton Ferdinand.

Everton took the lead early on and it was no surprise to see the Australian midfielder Tim Cahill yet again scoring against the lads. Cahill arrived unmarked in the box to head past Craig Gordon after Leighton Baines was given too much time on the left wing to deliver his cross.

Cahill went close again with a header from a corner which he claimed had crossed the line before Jordan Henderson forced a save from Tim Howard from a free kick.

We equalised with a good goal after twenty five minutes after fantastic work by Bolo Zenden operating on the right hand side of midfield. The Dutchman powered into the box before crossing low to Welbeck who made no mistake from close range with a crisp finish. Richardson went close soon after with a long range effort. Bent had a half chance right on half time with a header but he couldn’t get it on target.

After the break Everton looked to have taken the lead when Tim Cahill chipped the ball over the advancing Craig Gordon only for Michael Turner to get back brilliantly and clear off the line injuring himself in the process. Darren Bent flashed a volley off the top of the bar but was then flagged offside before forcing a corner with a shot blocked by Jagielka after being played through on goal by Henderson.
 
With twenty minutes to go Welbeck got his second of the game when he glanced Richardson’s cross into the top corner. It was a really well taken goal and prompted one fan to run on the pitch and mimic Bolo Zenden’s dancing celebration.
 
Sunderland couldn’t hold on for the three points though and Everton’s equaliser came in the last ten minutes but had a large element of fortune to it. Arteta hit a low shot from twenty yards which took a massive deflection and span into the bottom corner past the wrong footed Craig Gordon.
 
In injury time both sides had chances to win it but Welbeck screwed a shot wide before Beckford missed an easy chance for Everton by blazing over.
 
Final Score: Sunderland 2 Everton 2

ALS Man of the Match: Danny Welbeck

Aidan Crowe

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