Everton 2 - 0 Sunderland

By Kevin Darling

Tim Cahill and Landon Donovan gave Everton a comfortable win as Sunderland's freefall continued.

The Toffees dominated throughout and took the lead when Cahill deftly headed in Marouane Fellaini's lofted pass.

Cahill then turned provider, knocking the ball down for Donovan to lash home his first Everton goal from 15 yards.

Only a goal-line clearance from George McCartney denied Donovan a second while Tim Howard saved well from Bolo Zenden in a rare chance for the visitors.

It was an imposing display from David Moyes' in-form side but they were rarely made to work for the win against a woefully out-of-sorts Sunderland.

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The visitors had shipped 13 goals in their last three away games, including seven at Chelsea in their last league match.

Steve Bruce responded by naming a revamped back four, featuring new signing Matthew Kilgallon at centre-back, and a five-man midfield.

But the visitors' cautious game-plan was quickly left in tatters when Everton took the lead with the first chance of the game.

Fellaini's flighted ball into the box was missed by Nyron Nosworthy and Cahill expertly flicked a back header past the flat-footed Craig Gordon.

The Black Cats' recent run of bad luck was exemplified by replays suggesting Cahill was marginally offside when the ball was played.

And things quickly got worse - with Cahill's aerial prowess once again proving decisive.

The Australian out-jumped Kilgallon from Leighton Baines' long pass and knocked the ball down into the path of the Donovan, who burst into the area and rifled home his first Premier League goal.

Bruce quickly resorted to plan B, bringing on striker Kenwyne Jones for the apparently limping Kieran Richardson with just 25 minutes played.

But the change had little impact as Everton continued to dominate and Sunderland's unfamiliar defence struggled to deal with their opponents' aerial threat.

Cahill almost notched a second but he directed a header straight at the keeper after Louis Saha easily beat Nosworthy in the air.

Nosworthy then did well to block a Saha shot before Baines blasted a free-kick into the arms of Gordon.

Sunderland finally mustered a chance of their own in first-half injury time but a stretching Jones couldn't make proper contact with Bolo Zenden's dangerous cross.

Everton remained in control after the break and only desperate last-ditch defending kept Sunderland in the game.

First, McCartney superbly cleared off the line after Donovan latched on to Cahill's pass and rounded Gordon.

Moments later, John Mensah's perfectly-timed challenge denied Saha a clear run at goal.

Leon Osman then dragged a shot wide after being set up by Donovan, while Jones fired well off target from outside the box on one of Sunderland's rare forays upfield.

The Black Cats finally managed to trouble Tim Howard in the dying minutes. The Everton goalkeeper did well to palm a fierce drive from Zenden round the post and then tipped over a powerful header from Jones.

But the late flurry proved to be in vain for Sunderland, who are now without a win in nine league games and find themselves alarmingly embroiled in a relegation battle.

Everton manager David Moyes on Landon Donovan
"I thought in his first two games he did really well against Arsenal and Manchester City, which is not easy.

"He has not had many chances in those games but tonight he got his first one and he took it.

"He has a great goalscoring record in America - I think it is one in two - and he deserved that tonight."

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce
"We didn't defend properly and we have to show a better attitude.

"We've been talking the last few days about Tim Cahill arriving late in the box and six minutes in we allow him a free header.

"We have now got back-to-back home games which will define our season - we must get results in those games."