Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Everton 1: Fellaini's the best at filling in anywhere, says Moyes
The versatile footballer can often be condemned by the very virtue that makes him cherished. But not at Everton, not this season. As David Moyes rattled off a mournful roll-call of the injured and missing - 10 in all, he said - Marouane Fellaini's importance grew name by name. At 6ft 4in, Fellaini is usually head and shoulders above others and he is bound to stand out against Burnley today. Versatile: after helping out in defence, Marouane Fellaini hails his late equaliserOn Saturday at the Stadium of Light, it was no different. There he was, stationed in front of a makeshift back four, winning header after header against Kenwyne Jones. Then he was briefly at left-back in the second half, then he was in the right place in the Sunderland penalty area to score a most deserved 85th-minute equaliser. It was like having two players in one, which in Everton's situation is welcome. That explains Moyes's gratitude and his statement that Fellaini is now as good a midfielder as there is in the Premier League.Bent had given Sunderland the lead 'That was probably as good a midfield performance as I've seen this season,' Moyes said. 'He's turning into an outstanding player. He looked a top player today.' Moyes offered a half-complaint about Everton's finances and the fact that he will be only in the loan market next month, but in his boardroom they may point out that the then 20-year-old Fellaini cost a reported £15million when he arrived from Standard Liege 16 months ago.That made him the most expensive player on the pitch. 'We've played him that way (defensively) a few times,' added Moyes. 'When he came he was a bit indisciplined because of his inexperience, and that's still the case, but in time that's what he'll be. 'He never was a striker. He played up front for us when we didn't have any strikers. There might be moments in games when I toss him up front. The boy can play in two or three positions.' Everton had 67 per cent of possession and Fellaini's goal was the culmination of pressure that started as soon as Sunderland scored. That was the 17th minute, before which Leon Osman hit a post and Louis Saha missed the first of several chances. MATCH FACTSSunderland (4-4-2) Fulop 4; Bardsley 5, Mensah 6(Nosworthy 71min, 6) Da Silva 6, McCartney 5; Malbranque 4 (Zenden 58,6) Cana 5, Henderson 6, Reid 6; Bent 7, Jones 6. Booked: Mensah. Everton (4-1-3-2) Howard 6; Hibbert 6, Neill 6, Heitinga 5, Baines6; Fellaini 8; Bilyaletdinov 5, Osman 6 (Yakubu 69, 6) Pienaar 7;Cahill 6, Saha 5. Booked: Cahill, Saha, Bilyaletdinov. Man of thematch: Marouane Fellaini. Referee: Martin Atkinson. Then Darren Bent rose superbly to nod down to Jones, who responded with a pearl of a cross that Bent met at full pelt. In that moment you could see why Liverpool are considering a swap proposal in order to get Jones, despite his inconsistency. Jordan Henderson has brought a lot this season, prompting premature England talk, and he created an opening for Bent to make it 2-0 on 20 minutes. But Lucas Neill made the first of two goal-line clearances. Had either gone in, Sunderland would surely have had their first victory in six attempts. But Steve Bruce was left rueful and, having seen John Mensah limp off, Bruce was also angry about the FA's extended ban for Michael Turner. On hearing of the FA's action, Bruce said he 'had to walk out of the training ground because I felt physically ill. I was just thinking to myself: "What the hell is all that about?"' Bruce will be feeling sick again today should Sunderland record a sixth consecutive away defeat at Blackburn. EVERTON v Burnley: Captain Neville ready to return after four-month injury hellSale or return: Everton boss Moyes keen to offload Jo back to Man City EVERTON FC