 | Joe-Max Moore battles for possesion |
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Claudio Reyna grabbed the points for Sunderland on his home debut on a freezing afternoon at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland dominated possesion for the entire 90 minutes of tha game, but didn't really create too many chances. Everton relied on alot of chasing and the occasional break.
The first half was awful from a fans perspective. The cold weather was clearly
 | Gascoigne is booked by Referee Barry Knight |
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hampering the players and noone seemed able to provide the spark of inspiration that the game needed. Everton's Niclas Alexandersson combined well with Watson wide on the right to force McCann to concede a 33rd-minute corner. Unsworth rose to head the cross, but his effort went straight at Niall Quinn and the ball was cleared.
Five minutes later Everton once again attacked the homw side. Joe-Max Moore crossed from the left onto the head of Alexandersson, who's effort has saved by Sorensen. Moore and the in form Radzinski then had efforts saved, but niether one looked likely to produce the opening goal.
The second half started with Sunderland on top, new signing Reyna looking sharp at the heart of thier midfield.But it was again the visitors who almost broke through on 47 minutes, Steve Watson sending in an excellent cross which Darren Williams had to head away from Radzinski.
 | Reyna celebrates his goal |
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After that point Evertopn ceased to show any sort of menace depite lots of running and effort. Simonsen in the Everton goal saved well from Philips, before Reyna gave the home side the crucial goal they needed.The American midfielder, signed from Rangers a fortnight ago, struck from six yeards out with 13 minutes left to light up this dull spectacle of a game.
Everton were unlucky, and arguably deserved a point, but it was not too be. One does get the feeling that had we had the likes of Campbell, Ferguson, Stubbs and Weir available, it would have ben a much better story to tell.
