Premiership: Everton 2 - 2 Sunderland

It is scant consolation for Sunderland's suffering supporters, after a season of prolonged pain, but at least their team are going down with a fight. Everton have won all six of their home Premiership games since the New Year's Eve triumph over these opponents - the turning point of their season - but their run was ended by a hardworking and adventurous Sunderland side.

Sunderland caretaker manager Kevin Ball stressed beforehand that, however inevitable relegation seems, they would 'have a right go' at Everton. He was right. Shame it lasted only four minutes. After Rory Delap had volleyed over from a Justin Hoyte cross, they were quickly deflated by Leon Osman's opener. Gary Naysmith went down the left, and reached from the byline before cutting back a cross for James Beattie. He scuffed his shot but, after Simon Davies added a touch, Osman duly nudged the ball beyond Kelvin Davis.

Encouragingly, Sunderland did not take long to rediscover their earlier verve. Dean Whitehead came close with a shot before Jonathan Stead earned a corner with a long range shot that Richard Wright pushed around the post. From Grant Leadbitter's corner, Gary Breen flicked on and Stead tapped in at the far post inside the six-yard box. After 1,398 minutes without a goal, longer than any other top side's striker, Stead's glee was understandable.

Again Everton took little time to dampen Sunderland's enthusiasm. Phil Neville's long throw was missed by Sunderland's defence as they attempted to clear the high ball and James McFadden took one touch to bring the ball down before turning and putting it past Davis.

Everton should have gone further in front early in the second half when Tim Cahill's cross was missed by Beattie but headed by McFadden on to the underside of the bar. They remained in the ascendancy, but Sunderland were still creating openings, with Stead having a low shot charged down by Davis.

Compared to the liveliness of the first half, the second lost its spark. Everton were starting to allow Sunderland to come at them and they were punished when Stead supplied Whitehead whose floated cross was headed in by Delap from six yards out.

There were nervous moments for Sunderland to negotiate before full time, including a penalty claim from Beattie. but Sunderland could have won it when a thunderous 30-yard stroke from Delap hit a post and rebounded to safety in injury time, but the travelling supporters would have gone home happy none the less.

MAN OF THE MATCH: TIM CAHILL Sunderland already had bad memories of him from their earlier meetings this season, when he proved to be the matchwinner, and he troubled them again from set-pieces, his crossing and his guile in open play.