Home comforts for Toffees

Sbragia loses first game since taking Sunderland job permanently

Last updated: 28th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Home comforts for Toffees

Arteta is congratulated after breaking the deadlock

Man of the match: Mikel Arteta was crucial for the home team, and not just for his first-half double. The Spaniard is the focal point for Everton in attack and a constant menace to opponents with his clever passing and constant movement.
Moment of the match: Arteta's first free-kick was a cracker for the sheer power of his strike, but Dan Gosling marking his home debut with the third was a late Christmas present for the teenager.
Talking point: Having accepted the job on a permanent basis just 24 hours earlier, Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia endured a tough afternoon. With the January transfer window about to open, the new man in charge faces a big few weeks in his first stab at management.
Goal of the game: Arteta's set piece to break the deadlock was a superb strike, the midfielder deciding to go for power and pummelling the ball beyond Marton Fulop in the visitors goal.

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Ricky Sbragia's first game since taking the Sunderland job on a permanent basis proved one to forget, as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Everton.

Mikel Arteta struck twice in the first half to put the Toffees on course for just their second home win of the current campaign, solidifying their place in the top six in the process.

Substitute Dan Gosling tapped in a third in the closing stages, the 18-year-old turning home Joleon Lescott's cross to mark his home debut with a goal.

It all meant a miserable afternoon for Sbragia just 24 hours after he was confirmed as the Black Cats' new boss on an 18-month contract.

Missing men

His cause was not helped by the absence of defender Anton Ferdinand, who had a virus, while Andy Reid was also missing with a leg injury from the Boxing Day side which drew with Blackburn.

Sunderland started in lively enough fashion, with Djibril Cisse firing a low drive that Tim Howard fielded in the opening minutes.

But the Wearsiders found themselves behind after just 10 minutes. Kieran Richardson's foul on Osman outside the box presented Arteta with the chance to fire in a dipping free-kick past Marton Fulop.

Everton could easily have had a second goal after 25 minutes, Marouane Fellaini's hounding of Danny Collins as Fulop came to try to collect the ball in the box, resulting in a terrible mix-up between the Sunderland pair.

The ball ran loose, and only a desperate clearance from Nosworthy stopped the Belgian running the ball into an empty net.

However, the second was not far away. After 26 minutes Steed Malbranque was booked for a foul on Steven Pienaar, giving Arteta a similar position to his first goal with another set piece.

This time he saw his effort come back off the wall, though he volleyed the rebound goalwards before it cannoned off Teemu Tainio and past Fulop.

Another free-kick from Arteta presented the impressive Tim Cahill a glorious chance a couple of minutes later, but his header dropped inches wide.

Sunderland replaced Malbranque, who was fortunate not to see red having lunged in on Leighton Baines when already on a yellow, with Carlos Edwards at the break.

The visitors were working hard to get back into the game, and one fine run from deep by the substitute ended in a low drive that needed all of Howard's attention.

Real chance

It proved to be the only real chance of note and Everton, with Arteta, Fellaini and Cahill working well, nearly scored again through Osman.

In the end it was the midfielder's replacement, Gosling, having made an instant impression with a surging run from midfield that was only stopped by a Tainio foul that cost another booking.

The Plymouth-born midfielder was in the right place to side-foot home a Joleon Lescott pass after 83 minutes to mark his home debut with his first senior goal for the club.

Victor Anichebe marked his return from injury with a shot that was deflected wide after coming off the bench, the return of the striker a further boost on a good afternoon for David Moyes' side.

EvertonTeam StatisticsSunderland
3Goals0
21st Half Goals0
4Shots on Target2
6Shots off Target4
5Blocked Shots4
8Corners2
9Fouls10
3Offsides2
1Yellow Cards4
0Red Cards0
81.8Passing Success74.7
15Tackles20
93.3Tackles Success85
58.1Possession41.9
52Territorial Advantage48
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