Sunderland vs Everton 1-1

                                                   Sunderland vs Everton 1-1

 Played
December 26, 2011 10:00 AM EST
Stadium of Light — Sunderland
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎
Attendance:‬ 43619‎

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Substitute Jack Colback opened the scoring in the 26th minute having come on for the injured Titus Bramble early on, and the hosts led going into half time.

But Everton were awarded a soft penalty as Leon Osman appeared to kick the ground before falling over, with Leighton Baines converting the chance from the spot.

Martin O’Neill kept his faith in Nicklas Bendtner as a lone striker, with support being offered by Stephane Sessegnon. Titus Bramble partnered Wes Brown in the center of defense with John O’Shea lining up at left-back.
David Moyes opted for a similar 4-4-1-1 formation with Tim Cahill offering support behind Louis Saha. Leon Osman lined up on the right of midfield with Royston Drenthe wide on the left and a central pairing of Phil Neville and John Heitinga.



The first save from either goalkeeper came for Keiran Westwood in the seventh minute after a long clearance from Phil Jagielka. Brown misjudged the bounce and allowed Cahill to get onto the end of it, but his shot from an acute angle was stopped by the Sunderland ‘keeper.
Everton was on top in the opening 15 minutes, with Leighton Baines attacking well down the left. He forced Bramble into a difficult clearance before whipping in a corner that Cahill headed wide.
And Saha had the best chance of the opening stages as he backed off his at the back post before completely miscuing his header from another Baines corner.
Sunderland’s first real opportunity to get ta the Everton defense came in the 19^th minute as Bendtner was released with a fine volleyed pass from Sessegnon.
The Danish striker was one-one-one with Tony Hibbert but the defender did well not to commit himself and forced the striker to stall on the ball and eventually the chance was gone.
Moments later, O’Neill was forced into his first substitution of the afternoon as Titus Bramble left the field through injury and was replaced by Jack Colback who moved into midfield. John O’Shea moved into the center of defense with Kieran Richardson at left back.
And it was the substitute Colback who opened the scoring in the 26^th minute, the earliest by a substitute since Dwight Yorke scored in the 23^rd minute in October 2004. A good move from Sessegnon, running across the defense before feeding Colback, who’s shot was deflected by Sylvain over the top of Tim Howard and into the Everton net.