Source: Northern_Echo
Welbeck double secures Sunderland a point
IN the build up to last night's game with Everton, attention was focused on whether Darren Bent or Asamoah Gyan would feature in Steve Bruce's starting line-up. By the time of the final whistle, however, it was a different striker's name on the lips of the Sunderland support.[LNB] Danny Welbeck was a peripheral presence during the early stages of his Black Cats career, regularly appearing on the right or left of midfield, but since being switched up front, the teenager has more than come into his own.[LNB] Last night's double might not have earned Sunderland all three points goals in either half from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta saw to that but it enhanced the growing reputation of a striker Sunderland will attempt to sign permanently in January.[LNB] On a positive note, Welbeck's fine recent performances have helped the Black Cats record a four-game unbeaten run since the derby debacle at Newcastle. From a negative point of view, however, he has also ensured his price tag has risen significantly.[LNB] His second and third goals for the club one with his foot and one with his head underlined his growing confidence and ability, and threatened to secure victory after Cahill had headed Everton ahead early on.[LNB] Ultimately, though, the visitors deserved a draw, and while Arteta's deflected late equaliser came with an element of good fortune attached, it provided a fitting finale to a keenly-contested game.[LNB] Welbeck might not have started had Gyan been fit, but Bruce was spared a difficult decision when the Ghanaian suffered a minor leg injury in training.[LNB] Titus Bramble was also missing with a knee injury that could require surgery, and the defender's absence was felt as early as the sixth minute.[LNB] From the moment he scored for Millwall in an FA Cup semi-final, Cahill has made something of a habit of scoring against Sunderland.[LNB] Last night's goal was his seventh in ten matches against the Black Cats, and it could hardly have been any easier.[LNB] Leighton Baines played a crisp one-two with Steven Pienaar, and when the full-back crossed from the left, Cahill ghosted between Anton Ferdinand and Michael Turner to head home from six yards. Given his much-vaunted aerial ability, it was staggering he was afforded so much room.[LNB] Understandably rocked by their early concession, it took Sunderland a while to rediscover the fluency they displayed at Chelsea eight days earlier.[LNB] Jordan Henderson served notice of their intent with a 12th-minute free-kick that was easily gathered by Tim Howard though and gradually the Black Cats began to generate some momentum.[LNB] Bolo Zenden was particularly prominent having been switched to an unusual right-midfield role, and the veteran winger was the catalyst for the hosts' equaliser in the 23rd minute.[LNB] His dancing might have left plenty to be desired at Stamford Bridge, but he skipped around Pienaar effectively enough as he created a crossing position.[LNB] His subsequent centre could hardly have been any more accurate, and having opened his Black Cats account against Chelsea, Welbeck doubled his tally with a precise close-range finish. He would of course go on to treble it before the night was out.[LNB] His equaliser was no more than Sunderland deserved, but things remained shaky at the back and Everton had chances to regain their lead before the break.[LNB] The energetic Cahill posed a threat every time the ball was delivered into the box, and both Henderson and Lee Cattermole were forced to clear a spinning ball off the line after the Toffees midfielder met Baines' left-wing corner perfectly at the near post.[LNB] Craig Gordon was also forced to make a decent save from Louis Saha as the tempo of the game refused to relent, with Baines' positive running down the left-hand side suggesting that Zenden's defensive covering was rather less effective than his attacking play.[LNB] In truth, the game's helter-skelter nature meant chances remained frequent throughout. Welbeck's low drive forced Howard into a smart save within five minutes of the interval, and five minutes later, Cahill again came close to regaining Everton's lead.[LNB] Phil Neville's deftly-chipped through ball caught a hesitant Gordon in no-man's land, Cahill took advantage to flight the ball over the stranded keeper, but a backtracking Turner slid in to hack clear.[LNB] The opportunity sparked a prolonged spell of Everton pressure, but with Phil Bardsley once again impressing in the left-back slot he has increasingly made his own, the Black Cats' back four held firm.[LNB] Pienaar saw his shot deflect wide, before Bent fired into the side netting at the other end via a deflection off Phil Jagielka. From the resultant corner, Welbeck claimed his second goal of the game.[LNB] It was a controversial effort, as having seen his first delivery blocked, Kieran Richardson appeared to be offside when the ball was recycled to him on the right-hand side.[LNB] There was still plenty to admire in Welbeck's finish though, with the striker angling his run across the Everton back four and heading home powerfully at the front post.[LNB] Sunderland's lead was hard earned, but it lasted little more than ten minutes. Arteta wriggled his way into a shooting position on the edge of the area, and while his subsequent effort lacked venom, it passed through Ferdinand's legs and deflected into the net off Bardsley's boot.[LNB] Worse might have come for the hosts, but having outpaced Ferdinand in the final minute of stoppage time, substitute Jermaine Beckford blazed over from ten yards.[LNB]
