Jon Stead finally broke his 11-month goal drought as Sunderland salvaged a draw at Everton but it still left the Black Cats' Premiership existence hanging by a thread.

Trailing to Leon Osman's early effort, Stead side-footed home from a 16th-minute corner to score his first for the Black Cats and end a run of 31 matches without a goal dating back to April 30 2005.

The visitors' celebrations were cut short midway through the half when James McFadden scored from close range after a mistake by Gary Breen but Rory Delap headed home nine minutes from time to rescue a point.

That goal denied Everton's a seventh successive home win and put a dent in their claims for European football.

It also meant if West Brom won in their evening kick-off against Liverpool the Black Cats would be sent back down to the Coca-Cola Championship after just one season in the top flight.

In only the second minute Delap, playing on the left of midfield in place of Arca, curled a right-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area just wide of Richard Wright's left-hand post.

However, any optimism evaporated for the visitors in the fifth minute when Everton scored a fortuitous opener.

Gary Naysmith's left-wing cross picked out James Beattie deep in the penalty area and although his left-foot shot was mis-hit it beat the Sunderland defence - and the unmarked Simon Davies seven yards out - before Leon Osman turned the ball home at the far post.

Stead, 31 matches without a goal, almost broke his duck when he intercepted a weak Davies header and unleashed a shot which Wright turned behind in the 16th minute.

Chris Brown nodded on Grant Leadbitter's corner and Stead popped up at the far post to side-foot home his first goal for Sunderland since his £1.8million move from Blackburn in the summer and his first since April 30 last year.

The goal visibly lifted Sunderland but their mood was spoiled in the 26th minute when a Phil Neville long throw was allowed to drop in the six-yard box, Breen swung a leg at it but missed and James McFadden spun to fire home from close range.

Wright almost handed Sunderland an equaliser in the 36th minute when he came for a long throw but fumbled it straight into the path of George McCartney, whose right-footed shot was charged down by Yobo.

Stead's confidence was up following the goal and when the ball broke to him on the edge of the area off Tim Cahill he curled a left-footed effort just over.

At the other end Cahill's long-range volley was well blocked by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

McFadden should have put the result beyond doubt six minutes into the second half.

Sunderland centre-back Danny Collins only partially cleared Cahill's right-wing cross but the Scotland international's header from six yards bounced back off the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Cahill also had a headed chance moments later from Neville's cross but was put off by the attention of Collins.

Osman saw his shot form a narrow angle on the left of the penalty area skim the top of Davis' net as the hosts looked to apply the killer blow.

McFadden then curled a weak left-footed shot straight into the arms of Davis, who was having problems clearing the halfway line with his kicks into a strong wind.

In Sunderland's first chance of the second half Naysmith dived in to block Stead's volley from McCartney's left-wing cross.

But the visitors failed to give up and when Dean Whitehead swung in a cross from the right Delap rose at the far post to power home a header in the 81st minute.

Davis then had to stick out a leg to save a Neville shot as the match entered its last few frantic minutes, with late Everton substitute Duncan Ferguson heading narrowly wide.

And Delap could have snatched an amazing victory in injury time when his 30-yard strike rebounded off a post.

Teams

Everton Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Naysmith (Ferguson 86),Osman, Cahill, Neville, Davies (Arteta 62), McFadden, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Turner, Weir, Carsley.

Goals: Osman 5, McFadden 26.

Sunderland Davis, Hoyte, Breen, Danny Collins, McCartney,Lawrence (Le Tallec 69), Whitehead, Leadbitter, Delap,Stead (Smith 84), Brown (Daryl Murphy 75).

Subs Not Used: Joe Murphy, Neill Collins.

Goals: Stead 16, Delap 80.

Att: 38,093

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).