Barclays Premier League

SUNDERLAND FOILED BY SECOND HALF FLURRY

Everton scored two goals in three second half minutes to come from behind and defeat Sunderland 2-1 at Goodison Park. First Marouane Fellaini pulled the scores level with a 76th-minute turn and low drive, before Nikica Jelavic's smart finish from the Belgian's flick sealed victory two minutes later. It was harsh on the Black Cats, who deserved a point for the endeavour and industry they showed throughout a hard-fought 90 minutes. Adam Johnson had opened the scoring on the stroke of half time with a smart finish from Craig Gardner's cross, while Stephane Sessegnon also went close in the first half. In the end Everton's superior defence made the difference, with Phil Jagielka forming a human wall in front of the home goal for the closing 15 minutes. The Toffees' superb season continues, while Martin O'Neill's side can at least take heart from a much-improved performance.

FULL TIME EVERTON 2 SUNDERLAND 1

It's full time here at Goodison Park, and there are some ugly scenes as Martin O'Neill and Adam Johnson are forced to rush on to keep the irate Danny Rose away from the referee.

YELLOW CARD

Danny Rose fails to win a free kick as the full back is blocked off by two opposing players, and gets himself needlessly booked for arguing the point.

YELLOW CARD

David Vaughan picks up a late booking for a frustrated shove on Pienaar.

WELL WIDE

Vellios backheels Osman's short pass to Thomas Hitzlsperger, but the Hammer's low drive is comfortably wide.

AERIAL ASSAULT

Sunderland are chucking balls into the Everton area in a last-gasp effort to score, but every time it's either cleared by Jagielka or clutched by Howard. It doesn't look like there's any way through those two stalwarts.

SUBSTITUTION

Sunderland's third and final change sees Connor Wickham replace Colback, with Larsson dropping to right back.

SUBSTITUTION

Thomas Hitzlsperger gets a late run-out, with Jelavic the man to make way.

SUBSTITUTION

A late change by Martin O'Neill sees Johnson make way for David Vaughan. The England youngster, who has been much improved today, shakes his head in disbelief.

FRIENDLY FIRE

A gap opens up as Cuellar races onto a loose ball, but Gardner fails to get out of the way in time and ends up blocking his own teammate's goalbound shot.

VELLIOS PUTS IT OVER

Steven Naismith's backwards nod-down finds Vellios in space, the substitute leaning back to spank a half-volley over the crossbar.

GOAL!!! EVERTON

It's 2-1 as the home side score their second goal in three minutes. A cute pass from Osman is flicked by Fellaini into the path of NIKICA JELAVIC, who makes no mistake this time to place the ball into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box. Mignolet had no chance.

GOAL!!! EVERTON

Sunderland's hard work is undone as MAROUANE FELLAINI collects the ball just outside the area and spins Colback to spank a low shot into the bottom corner. Let's see if Everton can push on from here.

MIGNOLET TAKES IT

A decent cross in from Coleman finds Apostolos Vellios in the centre, and the Greek's flicked header is plucked out of the air by Mignolet just as Jelavic is about to apply the finish.

SUBSTITUTION

David Moyes sends Apostolos Vellios on for Phil Neville in an effort to boost his attack.

EVERTON PRESS

The Toffees are hammering on the door now, with Baines and Coleman sending in cross after cross. The indomitable O'Shea and Cuellar are holding firm for the present.

SUBSTITUTION

Fletcher makes way for former Everton striker Louis Saha.

YELLOW CARD

Gardner receives a yellow card for a foul on Baines, meaning he will be suspended for Sunderland's next outing.

HARSH DECISION

James McClean controls the ball and flicks it past Jagielka in the same movement to go through on goal, but the Irishman is cruelly pulled back for a supposed handball.

GOOD SPORTS

Rose and Larsson crowd out Jelavic with a sandwich tackle over by the touchline, from which the latter two both gain a knock but end up sportingly slapping each other on the back. That's what we want to see in the Premier League.

CROWD TROUBLED

Neither team currently seems able to retain the ball for more than a few seconds, and the crowd are starting to get a bit angsty.

YELLOW CARD

Heitinga's name is taken after the defender catches Fletcher with a late tackle, although the Sunderland man went down very easily indeed.

NOWHERE NEAR

A terrific cross from Leighton Baines finds Heitinga in the middle, but the resulting header is woefully wide of the target. The disappointed Dutchman kicks the turf in disgust.

WOUNDED SOLDIER

Fletcher crashes to the turf after contesting a high ball with Hetinga and immediately signals for the physio's attentions. After a minute or so of treatment the striker decides to continue.

JUST WIDE FROM OSMAN

Johnson, guarding the back post at a corner, nicks the ball away from the encroaching Jelavic. Leon Osman is ideally placed to power in a return shot that whistles just past the left-hand post.

GOALMOUTH SCRAMBLE

The ball ricochets around the visitors' area for a few moments as various Everton players attempt to apply a finish. In the end John Heitinga smashes a shot from the edge which Mignolet clutches to his chest.

SECOND HALF

The teams are back out and the second half has kicked off. Neither boss has deigned to make any half time changes.

JOHNSON TEARS UP THE SCRIPT

It's been largely honours even in the first half here at Goodison Park, where both sides have enjoyed some good chances without making the breakthrough – at least, until Adam Johnson tore up the scrpit to score right on the stroke of half time with a well-taken close range effort from Craig Gardner's cross. Johnson now becomes only the second player in Sunderland's squad to have scored a Premier League goal this season. Stephane Sessegnon and Jack Colback went close to joining that list earlier on, and perhaps should have done, while at the other end Simon Mignolet pulled off terrific stops from Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville. The loss of Kevin Mirallas to injury has taken the edge off some of Everton's attacking play, and they need to regroup quickly to get back into this.

HALF TIME EVERTON 0 SUNDERLAND 1

It's half time here at Goodison Park, where Sunderland are one goal to the good.

GOAL!!! SUNDERLAND

As a high ball is cleared by Everton, Craig Gardner sends it straight back into the area where ADAM JOHNSON swings a confident left boot to send the ball into the back of the net. What a time to score.

LONG-RANGER

Phil Neville senses a sight of goal from 20 yards out and comes up with a dangerous curler that forces Mignolet into a flying one-handed save.

BACK ON SONG

The much-maligned Adam Johnson and Stephane Sessegnon have looked a lot more lively in this opening half than they have done for a long time. The fans seem happier with them too.

JUST OVER FROM COLBACK

James McClean drives towards the 18-yard line and then swivels to lay it back for Jack Colback, who thumps a drive narrowly over the crossbar.

REF GETS IT RIGHT

A loud shout goes up as Seamus Coleman is fouled just outside the area, but the referee gets it right to award a free kick. Baines passes the ball into the penalty box where Nikica Jelavic hammers it into the ground and over the bar.

PASSING PLAY

A lovely passing move sees Baines and Pienaar combine down the left flank, sending the latter to the byline. His low cross almost picks out Leon Osman, but Mignolet manages to get a toe-end to it.

SUBSTITUTION

Mirallas looks to have pulled a hamstring and is replaced by Steven Naismith. That could be quite a blow to the home side.

FINE SAVE

Pienaar charges onto Mirallas' clever pass and draws a fine diving save from Mignolet. That was Everton's best chance so far.

HEEL FLICK

Pienaar's ball into Jelavic almost grants the Croatian a chance inside the box, only for the ball to flick up off his heel and make an easy catch for Simon Mignolet.

NOBODY'S LISTENING

Another free kick from Baines is swung into the area from the right. Craig Gardner nicks it away from Jelavic, whose opportunistic appeals for handball fall on deaf ears.

DEFLECTED WIDE

A sumptuous piece of skill from Steven Pienaar sees the South African wriggle away from three Sunderland players to set up Jelavic, whose curled effort from the edge of the area deflects off John O'Shea's boot and out for a corner.

SCRAPPY PERIOD

The game has turned a little scrappy in the last few minutes, with some strong tackles starting to fly in. Lee Mason keeps his cards in his pocket for the moment.

MCCLEAN BLOCKS IT OFF

Everton's strikeforce combine as Jelavic sets up Mirallas, who sees his goalbound effort blocked by James McClean. Larsson is on hand to tidy up.

MENACING MIRALLAS

Kevin Mirallas makes the byline for Everton and pulls the ball back, but it's just behind the onrushing Osman and Fellaini.

FREE KICK

Leighton Baines gets the chance to sweep a free kick into the box and duly does so, but Carlos Cuellar gets up in front of the lurking Marouane Fellaini to head clear.

FLETCHER GOES CLOSE

The Black Cats don't look like the most goalshy side in England at the moment; one pass from Sebastian Larsson finds Fletcher inside the area, and the Scot turns the ball past Howard only to see it trickle around the far post and wide.

CLASH OF HEADS

Fletcher and Jagielka suffer a nasty-looking clash of heads as the pair contest a header, but both brave boys are back up and running in a trice.

WHAT A CHANCE

Sunderland get a great early opportunity to score as Steven Fletcher sends Stephane Sessegnon clear on goal with a lovely through ball. The forward looks set to score but is denied by Tim Howard's right foot.

PENALTY SHOUT

Everton are already piling on the pressure as Nikica Jelavic goes down in the area. Lee Mason says nothing doing.

KICK OFF

Following an impeccably-observed minute's silence for Remembrance Sunday, we're now underway here at Goodison Park.

LINE-UPS ANNOUNCED

Neither manager has sprung many surprises in the starting line-ups, although Danny Rose has been declared fit enough to start for Sunderland, while Everton's John Heitinga keeps his place ahead of Sylvain Distin.

SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS

Wes Brown remains sidelined with a knee injury, while James McFadden has a tight hamstring and could miss out. Titus Bramble and Danny Rose are also doubts due to thigh and calf complaints.

EVERTON TEAM NEWS

The Toffees are missing Tony Hibbert, Victor Anichebe and Darron Gibson with calf, hamstring and thigh problems respectively.

ONE TO WATCH

Marouane Fellaini is in top form right now and will take some stopping; the brawny Belgian's performance against Fulham last weekend was hailed as one of the finest seen in the Premier League this season and included two top-quality finishes. It's hard to find fault in Fellaini's all-round game, and he's still only 25. Pity the defenders that have to get in his way.

LOAN RANGER

Black Cats midfielder David Meyler has joined Hull City on loan until January. The 23-year-old enjoyed a sustained spell in the Sunderland side when his new temporary boss Steve Bruce was at the helm but has found first-team opportunities harder to come by under Martin O'Neill. A spell in the Championship could see the Republic of Ireland international return a tougher and better player.

ENGLAND CALLING

Leon Osman has finally reaped the reward for some sparkling form by receiving a belated England call-up. The 31-year-old has always impressed at the heart of the Everton midfield, but it's taken until now for international recognition to come his way. Whether Osman gets a run-out against Sweden remains to be seen, but the diminutive midfielder's considered passing style could well suit international football.

REF WATCH

Lee Mason is the man to take charge of this afternoon's clash, having not skimped on the cards this season with 20 cautions given out in six Barclays Premier League games. This means serial foulers Marouane Fellaini and Lee Cattermole will need to take care. It seems inevitable that there'll be at least a booking in this for each of the bolshy pair.

EVERTON V SUNDERLAND

On recent form, the goals look set to flow at Goodison Park this afternoon, but unfortunately for Sunderland it's only the hosts Everton who have been striking it hot. The Toffees have started the season terrifically, putting in some top-drawer performances and looking the most likely side to challenge the domination of the top three. If not for some bad luck resulting in four consecutive draws, they'd be up there amongst the big boys. Sunderland couldn't be further from the land of goals and honey; Martin O'Neill's men have scored less goals this season than any other team in England's top four divisions, and all of the six they have notched up have come from Steven Fletcher. Some of the Black Cats' other talented but misfiring players need to step up if they're to have any chance of securing a victory today.