Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland

Arteta fires for Toffees

Updated: December 28, 2008, 4:20 PM UK

Everton made it four games unbeaten as they consolidated their position in the Barclays Premier League top six with a 3-0 defeat of visiting Sunderland.

• Sbragia faces up to tough task

Stripped of their strike force for the last few weeks, it was midfielder Mikel Arteta who scored twice in the first period to set his side on the way to victory.

Youngster Dan Gosling added the third goal in the closing stages of his home debut - and new Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia's day was ruined.

Leon Osman returned from an ankle injury to play his 150th league match for Everton, with 18-year-old Gosling dropping down to the bench.

Sbragia was without 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. Dean Whitehead and Daryl Murphy were brought in.

Sunderland started in lively 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.

Sunderland responded with a Nyron Nosworthy header from Richardson's corner that flew just over the bar.

But this was certainly not the start that Sbragia, having been on the wrong end of a 7-1 thrashing 13 months on his first game as Sunderland's then coach, had planned.

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, resulted in a terrible mix-up between the Sunderland pair.

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

But the second was not far away. After 26 minutes Steed Malbranque was booked for a foul on Steven Pienaar which cost him a booking. And it gave Arteta a similar free-kick position to his first goal.

This time he saw his free-kick come back off the wall, and his second shot deflected past Fulop off Teemu Tainio.

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

Sunderland replaced Malbranque with Carlos Edwards at the break, before Phil Bardsley was booked for pulling back Pienaar in a run on the left.

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

Then Phil Jagielka was booked for bringing down Cisse just outside the box after another strong Sunderland break.

But Everton, with Arteta, Fellaini and Cahill working well, still looked the more likely to score again, and Osman had a decent shooting chance after 68 minutes, with the ball going wide of the far post.

Gosling replaced Osman after 70 minutes, and went on a surging run from midfield that was only stopped by a Tainio foul that cost another booking.

Whitehead was cautioned after an altercation in a defensive wall, before Sunderland sent on David Healy and Dwight Yorke for Cisse and Tainio as they fought to salvage something from a game fast slipping away from then.

After 77 minutes Everton finally got a recognised striker onto the pitch, fit again Victor Anichebe replacing Fellaini.

The last few weeks has seen Everton without four injured front-men, so Anichebe's return was more than welcome. He almost set up Gosling in the box and then saw a shot on the turn deflected wide.

But Gosling was on the score sheet after 83 minutes on his home debut. The 18-year-old Plymouth-born midfielder was in the right place to side-foot home a Joleon Lescott pass.

Another teenager, Lukas Jutkiewicz came on for his debut soon after, replacing Cahill.

Sbragia faces up to tough task

New Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia admitted Everton were ''far superior'' after his managerial career started with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park this afternoon.

He said: ''It has not been the best start to my management career. We knew it was going to be difficult at Everton, and it certainly proved to be that.

''In general they were far superior to us. We spoke beforehand about not giving any silly free-kicks away around the box, and that is exactly what we did and they scored twice.

''From 2-0 down it was always going to be an extremely difficult game.

''Overall in all departments, Everton were better. Tiredness doesn't come into it. Everton have played three games in six days and they seemed fine, so we can't use that as an excuse.''

He added: ''They have talent, they work extremely hard and are always in your faces. We just didn't do ourselves justice.

''But I am still looking forward to my new role. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead. We have a difficult FA Cup tie next weekend (against Bolton) and then a derby game with Middlesbrough straight afterwards, so it is not going to get any easier.

''We have to get the troops together to start working hard on the training ground.

''The aim at the moment is to stay in the Premier League, we are still down at the bottom and not clear. If we were 10 points clear it would be different, but that is not the case.

''We have to get higher up the table, and quickly. My aim is just to stay in this division.

''There is a lot more responsibility, and the flak comes my way now. But we have to carry on, work on what we need now the transfer window is open.''

Everton assistant boss Steve Round was delighted with his side's current form.

He said: ''We are very pleased with six points over the festive period, we did well on Boxing Day (at Middlesbrough) and we deserved the three points here as well.

''We have some momentum, we are in a good run of form and we are staying in touch with the top clubs. If we can keep this going until March then we will be in contention for top six and Champions League.

''Top six is our target, it always is. If we can do that, can we get into the Champions League? If we don't it will not be through a lack of trying or ambition.

''We do not have the finances to compete with the big boys, but we try to get there on organisation and spirit. And adding quality when we can.

''We don't feel this is a bonus considering our poor early form and now the injuries, we all feel this is where we deserve to be. We are getting the rewards for our hard work.''