Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 2 Sunderland 0: Beckford shows his class in sweet Toffees victory
[LNB] It looks as though the times are changing for the better for Everton and Jermaine Beckford. But it is looking bleak for Sunderland and manager Steve Bruce.[LNB] Beckford, the striker who arrived at Goodison last summer after a prolific time with Leeds, has struggled to adjust to the demands of the Premier League, scoring just six goals going into this match. [LNB] Double trouble: Jermaine Beckford scores his second for Everton against Sunderland[LNB] But Beckford was all smiles as he basked in long-overdue adulation from the fans after hitting his 100th career league goal. [LNB]Manager David Moyes said: 'It hasbeen a big step up for him. Going up two divisions is a big step forany player and it was for us, too. There are lots of aspects of hisgame that need to improve but his movement in the box is as good asanyone I've seen.' [LNB]Watch out: Everton keeper Tim Howard braves a challenge with Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan[LNB]Whether the 27-year-old has 100goals or 101 is debatable but it is hard to see how he can be awardedthe opening goal after his unconvincing effort hit the unfortunateTitus Bramble and crossed the line. [LNB]Moyes, loyally, disagreed. 'I'll besurprised if it wasn't Beckford's goal,' he said. 'I haven't seen thereplay yet but I thought it was his goal.' [LNB]A bigger disappointment than notbeing awarded the goal could be missing the FA Cup fifth-round homeclash with Reading on Tuesday. [LNB]Beckford has a groin strain and midfielder Marouane Fellaini is also doubtful after aggravating an ankle problem. [LNB]The goal was a blow from whichstruggling Sunderland abysmally failed to recover. They have now beenbeaten in their last four league matches and never looked likerecording a first win at Goodison since November, 1996, their onlysuccess at the ground in 30 years. [LNB]Everton, boosted by the previousweek's FA Cup win over Chelsea, are setting themselves up for whatcould yet be a positive end to a low-key season. [LNB]But Bruce, who has signed a new deal tying him to the club until the summer of 2014, knows he has big problems to address. [LNB]'That was possibly the poorest wehave played all season,' he said. 'It's a good job I signed thecontract yesterday. We were second-best all afternoon. [LNB]'We have prided ourselves on beingdefensively sound but at the moment we are not. We haven't won here inthe league for 15 years and we never looked like changing that today.' [LNB] Going down: Everton's Seamus Coleman falls under a challenge from Sunderland's Stephane Sessegnon[LNB]It might have been a different storyfor Sunderland had Kieran Richardson cashed in on the goldenopportunity given to him by Asamoah Gyan in the sixth minute. [LNB]MATCH FACTS EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini (Rodwell 42min), Arteta, Osman; Beckford (Cahill 73), Saha (Bilyaletdinov 83). Subs (not used): Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Baxter.[LNB]SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Ferdinand (Noble 67), Mensah, Bramble, Bardsley; Elmohamady, Henderson, Muntari (Malbranque 77), Richardson; Sessegnon; Gyan. Subs (not used): Gordon, Zenden, Riveros, Colback, Knott. [LNB]Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire). [LNB]The Ghana striker's pass split Everton and left Richardson with only keeper Tim Howard to beat but his shot flew wide. [LNB]The disappointment for Sunderlandwas compounded by going behind two minutes later. Bramble was a forlornfigure as Beckford's wayward, close-range shot from Leon Osman'sthrough ball struck him to wrong-foot keeper Simon Mignolet. [LNB]Fit-again Louis Saha, a constantworry for Sunderland's defenders, and Osman had shots charged down asEverton pushed to build on their good fortune before Bruce's side hadanother glimpse of a breakthrough. [LNB]Stephane Sessegnon's searing drivefrom the edge of the box was tipped against the bar by Howard and afrustrated Bruce must have sensed there was to be no improvement on hisclub's sorry run at Goodison. [LNB]Beckford reinforced those fears whenhe scored his side's second goal in the 39th minute, angling the ballover the line from Mikel Arteta's cut-back from the byline. [LNB] Up for it: Sunderland's Kieran Richardson challenges Everton keeper Tim Howard[LNB]Beckford has not exactly beenwallowing in the adoration of the Goodison faithful since his freetransfer, so it must have been music to his ears when warm applausegreeted his substitution in the 73rd minute, when he was replaced byTim Cahill. [LNB]Sunderland were fortunate not to bebeaten more heavily, surviving several close calls in the second half.Osman volleyed wide, Mignolet took off to tip a Seamus Coleman drivearound the post and Osman rounded the keeper in the last minute, onlyfor Ahmed Elmohamady to head his shot off the line. [LNB] Everton boss Moyes weighs up move for highly-rated Leicester ace KingBruce signs new contract until 2014 as Sunderland throw backing behind bossEVERTON FC
