Handyman Johnson keeps Everton on Rafa's tail

David Moyes' side made light of last Thursday's UEFA Cup disappointment to squeeze the gap between themselves and Liverpool down to goal difference.

The Everton manager conceded he is watching every step Rafa Benitez's side make, usually on a Saturday, usually when his own team are not playing.

Moyes had to wait until the 55th minute to see the points difference disappear and television replays showed the goal should not have stood. When Andy Johnson tried to deftly head a Mikel Arteta cross past Craig Gordon, the ball brushed off his elbow.

Roy Keane, admirably, did not question the decision, although such charitable acceptance may not have been evident in the red half of Merseyside.

"I'm looking at their results," admitted Moyes. "I think it's important. We play on a Sunday, they play on a Saturday and we don't like playing catch-up. We would like to play on Saturday at three o'clock but whatever we're doing, we are doing quite well.

"You keep getting told you don't win games after playing in Europe. We have done it a couple of times now.

"Everyone was looking to see how we would react. They have shown they can stand up. We didn't play well in midweek but I won't beat them up for one poor game. Heads could have dropped. They have shown a brilliant team spirit and were making sure they did things right. They are a credit, they really are a great group of boys.

"I don't care what part of Andy it hit. Centre forwards tell you it is important to score goals."

There can be no doubting the collective spirit of Keane's men, despite their chronic lack of creativity yesterday.

It said everything that the first genuine opportunity Sunderland carved out did not arrive until the 67th minute. Fittingly, following a neat pass from Grant Leadbitter, Kieran Richardson struck a poor shot wide on his weaker right foot.

Rarely has a team associated with Keane been so short of drive, urgency and ambition.

On the stroke of half-time, a furious supporter begged him to at least field two forwards.

Keane finally succumbed to the obvious in the 75th minute, introducing Rade Prica, but the game had gone by then despite a late flurry at the death.

"People will say it didn't work because we lost but I have no problems with the way we played today," said Keane.

"It just didn't quite happen. We didn't have two strikers on but we had Daryl Murphy on the left and Stokesy on the right.

"We had Grant and Kieran and they are all very attack-minded players. It was far from a defensive shape. It was a cagey game and we didn't want to panic and put three or four players up front. I have to keep the players' spirits up. It is easier said than done. They are upset but I am confident we will be in the Premier League next season. I have great faith in the players."

Perhaps reflection will lead Keane to conclude this was a missed opportunity, especially given that his side face Chelsea on Saturday. The initiative was gift-wrapped for a team clearly feeling the effects of competing in Europe on Thursday evening.

Everton seemed surprised at the lack of desire that met them, although the message had not registered that Sunderland were devoid of ambition until the 44th minute.

It was the first attack of any note from either side and it needed smart defending from Jonny Evans on his goal-line to hack Johnson's header clear.

It was from the same route that Everton scored their winning goal 10 minutes into the second half. Danny Collins lost possession on the Sunderland right, Arteta whipped in an inswinging cross and Evans could not get ahead of Johnson to stop the forward, who had Tim Cahill in close support, from diverting the ball past Gordon.

There was not a great deal more from either side, although Phil Bardsley's crude challenge on Steven Pienaar led to the South African being withdrawn.

Only in the 94th minute did Sunderland rouse themselves to the severity of their situation.

Everton substitute Victor Anichebe had been on the field for only seven minutes when he recklessly fouled Bardsley. From 30 yards, Andy Reid, another substitute, curled a delightful free-kick that Tim Howard could only tip over his bar at full stretch. From the resulting corner, Kenwyne Jones rose and headed goalwards, where Julian Lescott cleared off his line.

Fighting to the finish. It could be Everton's new mantra.