Everton’s pursuit of Liverpool has taken on a dogged quality, which was encapsulated in this match; pretty it may not have been, but pretty impressive it remains. Again, level on points with their Merseyside rivals after yesterday’s 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light, David Moyes, the manager, and his players served notice that easy excuses will be eschewed.

Disappointed to be beaten by Fiorentina in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, Everton did not allow their dismay to fester. If Sunderland were partly responsible for soothing their woes after a sapping result and a long journey, Everton warranted their reward.

Everton, for whom Andy Johnson, the England striker, mustered the winning goal – his ninth of the campaign – ended the afternoon with Jack Rodwell, who celebrates his 17th birthday tomorrow, in defence. In terms of resources, they cannot compete with Liverpool, but compete they have, assembling an unbeaten league run in 2008.

“That’s why I’m pleased,” Moyes said. “We didn’t get back from Italy until Friday afternoon and that could have affected the players. I’ve been told that it’s difficult to get results after playing in Europe, but we’ve done it a couple of times. Everyone was looking to see how we’d react, but we’ve stood up to that. We’ve shown a brilliant team spirit and they [the players] are a credit, they really are.”

The same did not apply to their opponents. Roy Keane had blamed himself for Sunderland’s 7-1 thrashing at Goodison Park in November and the return fixture was not bereft of culpability. In starting with a five-man midfield – perhaps in the expectation that Everton would do the same – impetus and momentum were sacrificed.

Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes, two forwards, were stationed on the flanks, but Kenwyne Jones won his share of headers and held the ball up without any serviceable support. Until Kieran Richardson spun a shot wide in the 67th minute, a meagre opportunity, Keane’s players had been sterile.

Everton were simply themselves; compact, efficacious and willing. Towards the conclusion of a barren first half, they could have snared the advantage when, from Mikel Arteta’s corner, a header by Tim Cahill hit Stokes on the goalline. In that instance, they were denied, but their general superiority could not be similarly repelled.

From all perspectives, Everton’s goal was untidy, but while Sunderland could claim a measure of misfortune, not even their most partisan supporters would suggest that justice had been betrayed. There was no defender to intercept Arteta’s cross from the left and the marking was so slack that both Johnson and Cahill were able to lurch for the ball. The decisive touch came off Johnson’s left arm.

There was a response, of sorts, but the theme remained scrappy and unsatisfactory. In the dying moments, a long-range free kick from Andy Reid, a substitute, prompted a wonderful, single-handed save from Tim Howard. From the subsequent corner, Joleon Lescott cleared a powerful header from Jones.

It was Sunderland’s first home league defeat since Boxing Day and their frustration showed in Phil Bardsley’s bad tackle on Steven Pienaar. “I thought we deserved more,” Keane said, “but we can’t be saying that every week. Eventually that wears thin with people, but you have to deal with your setbacks and we’ll be positive as we can next weekend.” Chelsea are the next visitors to Wearside.

How they rated

Sunderland
4-5-1

C Gordon 5
P Bardsley Y 6
N Nosworthy 5
J Evans 6
D Collins 5
A Stokes 3
G Leadbitter 4
D Whitehead Y 4
K Richardson 5
D Murphy 5
K Jones 6

Substitutes
M Chopra 4 (for Stokes, 46min), R Prica (for Leadbitter, 75), A Reid 5 (for Murphy, 67) Not used P McShane, M Fulop
Next: Chelsea (h)

Everton
4-4-2

T Howard 8
A Hibbert 7
J Yobo 7
P Jagielka 7
J Lescott 7
M Arteta 6
T Cahill Y 6
P Neville 6
S Pienaar 6
Yakubu Ayegbeni 6
A Johnson 6

Substitutes
J Rodwell (for Cahill, 87), L Baines (for Pienaar, 81), V Anichebe (for Yakubu, 87) Not used T Gravesen, I Turner
Next: Fulham (a)

Referee A Wiley

Attendance 42,595