On-loan American Brian McBride stole the show on the day Everton fans were
celebrating boy wonder Wayne Rooney's new contract.
There was no escaping Rooney, who flashed across the giant TV screens and
appeared on the cover of the match programme - but did not play because of
suspension.
But it was 31-year-old McBride who was the Goodison hero here, netting twice
to give Everton their first win since early December.
Relegation-haunted Sunderland were ahead in the first half through Kevin
Kilbane's first goal of the season, but when the home side went to work after
the break it was McBride - a World Cup star in the Far East last summer - who
stepped up with a quickfire double to claim the points.
The American scored on his debut last week in the 4-3 defeat at Tottenham and
provided further ammunition to get Everton's European quest back on
track.
Sunderland started in deep defence, made a game of it in the second half, and
the likes of Kevin Phillips deserved more for their effort.
But Howard Wilkinson's side suffered a third successive 2-1 away reverse in
the Barclaycard Premiership - making it six games without a win for the
Wearsiders.
Everton's goalkeeping injury crisis eased with Richard Wright making a shock
recovery from his knee injury, but Kevin Campbell was only fit enough for the
bench after missing two games with knee trouble.
McBride shook off a hamstring injury for his home debut and David Weir
returned after suspension - but Joseph Yobo was dropped after the 4-3 reverse at
Spurs last week.
After Alan Stubbs had twice headed Gary Naysmith corners wide, Tomasz
Radzinski managed to get behind the line onto a Stubbs pass on 11 minutes and
took the ball round Thomas Sorensen - but could not hook the ball in.
McBride headed Alessandro Pistone's angled ball goalwards after 16 minutes -
Sorensen saving well at the foot of a post and diving on the rebound.
Kevin Phillips was dangerous up front for Sunderland, and he almost netted
with the Wearsiders' first on-target effort - a 25-yard effort which Wright
spilled before David Unsworth cleared.
Everton's response was a fine passing move which ended with Steve Watson
laying the ball out to Pistone and then racing into the box to meet the cross
with a diving header which crashed against a post.
But the home side were punished for their wastefulness on 34 minutes when
Sunderland took the lead.
Phillips, who seconds earlier had scampered 40 yards on his own to create a
chance which Tore Andre Flo wasted, then claimed possession mid-half and
intelligently found Kilbane out on the left. The Republic of Ireland
international took two strides before striking an accurate left foot effort in
off the far post.
It was nearly 2-0 a minute from the break when the dangerous Phillips created
space and then curled an 18-yard effort which Wright turned superbly round a
post.
Everton, who brought on Thomas Gravesen for Li Tie at the break, almost went
two down inside a minute of the restart when Wright failed to punch clear
effectively from a corner, but made amends with a fine plunging save to keep out
Phillips' instant volley from the rebound.
But on 51 minutes Everton were level. Scot Gemmill got to the byline and
chipped to the far post where McBride got a messy connection and saw the ball
clip the unfortunate Paul Thirlwell and bounce into the net.
Everton almost got a second when McBride's nod down from Unsworth's cross was
turned inches wide by Radzinski.
Unsworth then arrived in the box after another Gemmill cross to send a shot
crashing into Sean Thornton - who was making his Premiership debut - on the line
and inches wide.
But the second goal did come on 57 minutes, when McBride received a Radzinski
pass on the edge of the box and - after an initial stumble - shot into the
bottom corner.
Sunderland's response was to replace Thirlwell with the more adventurous Julio
Arca, and the playmaker saw one run produced a blocked shot and then another
twisting and turning 40-yard scamper provide a chance for Phillips which was
touched wide by Wright.
McBride, not surprisingly after a season with Columbus Crew in the United
States, is not quite up to the pace of the Premiership - but his sterling
efforts won him a standing ovation when he was replaced by Campbell on 74
minutes.
Sunderland refused to cave in, and Darren Williams surged into the box and
brought another flying save out of Wright with 10 minutes left.
But there was no grandstand finish from the visitors and the points went to
Everton - even without Rooney.
Teams:
Everton: Wright, Pistone, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Watson,
Tie Li (Gravesen 45), Gemmill, Naysmith, McBride (Campbell 75),
Radzinski.
Subs Not Used: Pembridge, Yobo, Gerrard.
Booked: Gemmill, Weir.
Goals: McBride 51, 57.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, Craddock, Babb, McCartney,
Thornton, McCann, Thirlwell (Arca 65), Kilbane,
Flo (Proctor 73), Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Gray, Thome, Macho.
Booked: Craddock, McCann, Babb.
Goals: Kilbane 34.
Att: 37,409
Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
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