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Sunderland 0-2 Everton
Match Reports, 18:11, May 3, 2009 ,
Sunderland stay in the relegation battle after goals from Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini handed Everton a 2-0 win.
The FA Cup finalists enjoyed a comfortable afternoon at the Stadium of Light and after having the better of a goalless first half, they converted their dominance into goals after the break which moved them into fifth place above Aston Villa on 56 points.
The Black Cats were poor throughout and remain just four points clear of the drop zone with three difficult matches left to play this season.
A stop-start opening to the game, in which there were several injuries for both sides, ruined any chance of seeing some free-flowing football.
However, Everton looked the more likely and should have gone in front with the first and only real opportunity of the half when Pienaar threaded the ball through to Jo down the left side of the penalty area, but the Brazilian loan striker dragged his effort wide of the far post.
The Toffees continued to enjoy the upper hand on the possession side without really looking like they would take the lead, while Sunderland were lacklustre throughout the first 45 minutes and failed to force the visiting keeper Tim Howard into a meaningful save.
Everton started the second half on top and were rewarded with the opening goal on 48 minutes. Phil Neville found Jo on the edge of the area and his delicate pass into the box found the run of Pienaar, who slotted his effort under keeper Marton Fulop.
Sunderland responded well to falling behind and went close on 50 minutes when Danny Collins headed a corner straight at Howard.
A free-kick on 64 minutes handed Kieran Richardson a chance for the hosts but again his effort from 30 yards was straight down the throat of Howard.
A minute later Fellaini latched on to a Jo flick-on and went past the onrushing Fulop, but Anton Ferdinand got back to clear the danger.
The towering Belgian midfielder was not to be denied a goal on 71 minutes when he side-footed man-of-the-match Pienaar's low cross from the right past Fulop from the edge of the area.
The goal killed the game off as a contest and the closest Sunderland got to pulling one back was on 76 minutes when Steed Malbranque's cross-cum-shot from the right was tipped over his own bar by Howard.