Final Whistle Report: Sunderland FC 1 Everton FC 1

Dec 26 2011 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

EVERTON secured a point against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light thanks to a controversial Leighton Baines Penalty.

Referee Howard Webb gifted the Blues the second half spot-kick on Boxing Day, after Leon Osman appeared to tumble under Lee Cattermole’s tackle.  TV replays showed the Everton midfielder kicked the turf and tripped himself

It meant yet another stalemate against the Black Cats, who Everton are now unbeaten against in 15 games, and temporarily nudged them up to tenth in the Premier League table.

David Moyes had made two changes from the side that beat Swansea; with the injured Seamus Coleman and Marouane Fellaini missing out, while Sylvain Distin and Tim Cahill were re-introduced to the starting line-up.

The Blues started brightly with two early half-chances, first when Royston Drenthe was nearly through on goal before being beaten by the ball’s bounce, then Tim Cahill tested Kieran Westwood with a fierce low drive.

In reply Titus Bramble gave Tim Howard a nervy moment with an awkward header after Howard Webb harshly penalised a solid Phil Neville tackle with a free kick in Everton’s half.

Moments later Cahill headed wide from Baines’ corner after more sharp threatening play from the visitors.

The Blues were always better when passing , as occasional reliance on long diagonal balls was dealt with comfortably by O’Neill’s men.

But they could have been behind when Stephane Sessengnon played an exquisite first-time ball to Nicklas Bendtner who dithered when the opportunity to test Howard beckoned.

Sessengnon was starting to shine however, and he crafted his side’s opener with a crafty run that left Distin flat-footed and allowed Jack Colback to score via a deflection off the unfortunate French defender.

It was a set-back but Everton kept plugging away, and Drenthe forced a corner with a smart turn and shot after half an hour. The Blues were arguably playing the better football and pressing their opponents endlessly, but they looked vulnerable on the break and it was only further wastefulness from Bendtner which prevented the Black Cats from doubling their lead after Drenthe had been dispossessed in midfield.

But if Everton could count themselves fairly unfortunate to be behind, lady luck soon made up for it. They got back into the game from a Leighton Baines penalty, awarded after Osman appeared to tumble under Lee Catermole’s challenge. Howard Webb was directed to point to the spot by his assistant, but TV replays showed that Osman had kicked the floor and upended himself.

In his technical area O’Neill was apoplectic, but nobody in royal blue was complaining. That signalled an incensed Sunderland to take control, forcing Everton onto the back foot as high winds swirled around the Stadium of Light.

The game soon became as scrappy as the litter-strewn pitch, with neither side convincing in possession.

Moyes introduced Magaye Gueye for Drenthe who had flattered to deceive, and replaced Saha with Apostolos Vellios. With only minutes left Cahill too departed for McFadden, meaning the Aussie will go a full calendar year without a goal for Everton.

But overall the point keeps the Toffees ticking over into the new year, when they will hope for their annual post-January resurgence.

 EVERTON: (4-4-2) Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Neville (Capt), Osman, Drenthe (Gueye, 76) Cahill (McFadden 87), Saha (Vellios, 84).

Subs not used: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Stracqualursi, Barkley.

Bookings: Heitinga

Goals: Baines (50, pen)

 

SUNDERLAND: (4-4-1-1)Westwood, Bardsley (Gardner, 45), Brown, Bramble (Colback, 20), O’Shea, Cattermole (Capt), Vaughan (McClean, 81), Richardson, Larsson, Sessegnon, Bendtner.

Subs not used: Carson, Ji, Elmohamady, Kilgallon.

Bookings:

Goals: Colback (26)

 

Ref: Howard Webb

Attendance: 43,619