We are half way through the four minutes of injury time as Sunderland again push forward but Everton defend well to clear.

Joseph Yobo breathes a sigh of relief as he looks to have bundled over Kenwyne Jones on the edge of his own area but the referee waves play on.

Everton have been happy to run the clock down in the past few minutes as it has been a case of job-done since that second goal.

The free kick is cleared by Tim Cahill but put back in by Phil Bardsley and Phil Neville concedes a corner. Grant Leadbitter puts the corner in but it skids off the head of Kenwyne Jones and away to safety.

Phil Neville chips a ball into the area but Jo cannot get any purchase on his header and Marton Fulop saves.

Steed Malbranque smashes the ball into the area and it almost caught out Tim Howard who pushes it over his own bar.

Steven Pienaar plays a free kick into the area but the man of the match so far sees his ball land into the hands of Marton Fulop.

Kenwyne Jones picks up a knock as Tim Howard takes him out clearing the ball and Kieran Richardson's follow up strike is wide.

Everton are looking for a third now as Tim Cahill heads a Dan Gosling corner over the top after being left free in the area.

Leighton Baines plays a free kick into the Sunderland area but Marouane Fellaini is crowded out and Lars Jacobsen's cross back into the middle is saved by Marton Fulop.

The only real positive for Sunderland is the players have responded well to going behind but Everton have defended well to maintain that one-goal lead.

Steven Pienaar hits an effort at goal from outside the area but his grass cutter is easily saved by Marton Fulop.

Jo's flick on puts in Marouane Fellaini and, while he knocked the ball past the keeper Marton Fulop, Anton Ferdinand was on hand to hack it away before he could score.

A good chance for Sunderland here after a handball 30 yards from goal just left of centre. Kieran Richardson takes it left-footed but it is straight at Tim Howard.

Marouane Fellaini almost sets up Steven Pienaar after some good intricate passing but the return ball is just behind him on the edge of the area and the chance goes begging.

Tim Cahill looked set to head in Everton's second but Phil Bardsley did just enough to put him off at the back post.

Joseph Yobo does well to clear when Grant Leadbitter's effort almost deflected into the path of the onside Kenwyne Jones.

Steven Pienaar lifts a high ball into the area but Sunderland just about get it clear, while Everton are still on top.

Joleon Lescott concedes a corner as he blocks Djibril Cisse's effort from an angle. Kenwyne Jones gets his head to the flag kick but Tim Cahill clears.

Everton have not won away since the 1-0 success 25 miles down the A19 at Sunderland's neighbours and fellow strugglers Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. They would be happy with a similar score here.

Kenwyne Jones does well to fight off Joseph Yobo but his attempted through ball is over hit and it's a goal kick to Everton. The home fans are getting a little restless now.

Sunderland break after more Everton pressure and win a corner off Dan Gosling's block. Grant Leadbitter plays it in but Tim Howard punches clear before Phil Bardsley blasts his effort high and very wide.

A nightmare start for Sunderland but they come back and win two quick corners with Danny Collins strong header right into the hands of the grateful Tim Howard.

It has been a bright opening to the half by Everton who have pinned the hosts back into their own half of the field.

Everton's main threat has been down the left flank via Steven Pienaar and Leighton Baines but the final balls into the area have been a let-down.

Leighton Baines plays a cross in from the left but Jo cannot divert the ball into the net from close range under pressure as the board shows four minutes of added time.

Phil Bardsley's handball gives the Toffees a chance but Leighton Baines gets down to the left byline before over hitting his cross past everyone in the centre.

Sunderland really need to up the tempo it looks like both teams have the deck chairs out and they are still involved in a relegation battle. In fact Evertion have had the edge.

Kieran Richardson fouls Steven Pienaar to break up a quick attack by Everton. the ball eventually goes in the area but Jo strays offside.

Steven Pienaar whips a ball in at goal and it hits off his team-mate Dan Gosling and bounces away from goal rather than into the net.

Sunderland win a corner down the left flank. Grant Leadbitter's kick does not beat Phil Neville at the front post.

Leighton Baines can put a free kick into the box after another foul by Calum Davenport. The full-back's kick is poor as it drops behind Marton Fulop's goal.

Everton look quite happy to let Sunderland over commit and try to nick something on the break. Afterall it is the Black Cats who are in more need of the points.

Everton win a corner as Jo's effort is blocked by Phil Bardsley. Steven Pienaar plays it in from the left but a high foot by Joseph Yobo sees Sunderland win a free kick.

Half an hour gone and Marouane Fellaini commits a foul in the middle of the pitch summing this game up which has been scrappy and lacked any flow due to countless injuries.

Steven Pienaar crosses to Jo in the area and he tries to find a team-mate but the ball deflects off a defender and into the grateful hands of Marton Fulop.

Danny Collins fell awkwardly there on his shoulder and again the physio is on the field but he is okay to carry on.

Grant Leadbitter tries his luck from outside the area after Kenwyne Jones teed him up but the ball fizzes the wrong side of the post.

Sunderland win a chance to put a free kick into the area but it is played in and cleared by Joseph Yobo.

Sunderland win another corner which Grant Leadbitter whips in and is headed over the top by Calum Davenport.

Grant Leadbitter plays the corner in but Tim Howard punches clear as Sunderland keep the attack going but Calum Davenport knocks it out.

Kieran Richardson does well to win a corner off Lars Jacobsen as Sunderland do some pressing.

Sunderland break quickly and Joseph Yobo makes a timely block to prevent Djibril Cisse breaking through on goal as Jo now needs treatment after taking a knock. We could be looking at about 5 minutes injury time already.

Everton are buzzing around the Sunderland area as the home side are defending in numbers to thwart the Toffees' attacks.

Tim Howard is okay to continue as he launches the ball up the field, but sub keeper Carlo Nash has started warming up on the touch line.

Djibril Cisse whips a low ball in from the right which is spinning away from Tim Howard as he races out to dive and collect. However he hurt his knee in the process and the physio is back on the field.

Steven Pienaar plays in Jo after a great bit of passing but the big striker drags his shot past the far post when he could maybes have tried to play Tim Cahill instead. Best chance so far!

Kenwyne Jones is spoken to by the referee after complaining against a free kick given against him following a bit of tugging with Leighton Baines.

Kenwyne Jones gets a half chance at the other end but lifts the ball over the top, while Everton break up field and Tim Cahill's low effort from outside the area is saved low down by Marton Fulop.

Leighton Baines whips a cross to the back post where Danny Collins does enough to limit the power Tim Cahill can get on his header which Marton Fulop saves.

Tim Cahill heads the ball goalwards as Marton Fulop has to punch it clear despite under a lot of pressure from Jo.

Steed Malbranque is finally back on with a full tub of vaseline on his head along with five stitches as Anton Ferdinand concedes a corner to Everton.

It has been a really slow stop-start opening here with nothing to report as Sunderland look to keep it tight with 10 men on the field.

Anton Ferdinand is back on and running a bit gingerly while Steed Malbranque is off getting his head sorted out but he should be fine to continue.

Anton Ferdinand is down holding his thigh after slipping on the turf. We are not five minutes in yet and it has been Emergency Ward 10 on the pitch so far.

Leighton Baines is fuming as the referee gives a corner against him when he clearly played the ball out off Djibril Cisse. Fortunately the resulting flag kick came to nothing.

Phil Bardsley hoisted the free kick high into the area but Joleon Lescott got upw ell to head clear.

Early drama as Steed Malbranque and Tim Cahill bang heads and need a bit of treatment so injury time is clocking up already here.