Yakubu leads the way in Everton romp against Sunderland

This was the Goodison team's biggest win since 1996, when Joe Royle's side put seven past Southampton. Yesterday, Yakubu and Tim Cahill grabbed two each, with Steven Pienaar, substitute Andrew Johnson and Leon Osman completing the rout.Dwight Yorke struck for the visitors.

With a Carling Cup quarter-final to come next month, progress being made in the UEFA Cup, and now being handily placed in the Premier League, things are indeed looking up for Everton.

Manager David Moyes described it as the best performance of his five and a half years in charge; opposite number Roy Keane said he had never experienced such humiliation. Yakubu led the line for Everton and scored an amusing opener when his shot bounced into the Goodison turf, up and over Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon and back down again in plenty of time.

The Nigerian laughed, Moyes remained straight-faced and Irish defender Paul McShane, who had completely missed his clearance, shook his head guiltily.

But it is what happened around and behind Yakubu that illustrated how a team can thrive,and even run riot,with one front man, as long as flair is underpinned by positional guidance.

You need a versatile, surging performer like Australia's Cahill in close attendance, enterprising midfielders and a holding player — for Owen Hargreaves read Lee Carsley — to keep everything together should possession be lost.

Given a basic structure, all sorts of rampaging fun is there to be had, as Everton showed in the 17th minute with their second goal. The imperious Mikel Arteta came up with a dazzling turn and nonchalant flick to release Phil Neville for a first-time cross. Cahill collected in the penalty area, turned on a one penny piece and left Gordon to pick the ball out of the net. Three Sunderland defenders had watched the action unfold. Hatchet men from Sunday pub sides are less generous.

Two goals ahead, Moyes did not smile but his eyes shone a little. Shortly before half-time, Pienaar combined beautifully with Nuno Valente, opened his instep and slid the slickest of finishes into the far corner.

At last Moyes smiled and clapped. He probably regretted it when Dwight Yorke pulled one back in first half injury time, teed up by Kenwyne Jones after Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard had clawed away an angled effort from Carlos Edwards.

It was virtually the only time that Joleon Lescott, who has looked out of his depth in an England shirt, was troubled. The party continued though and Cahill read Joseph Yobo's long pass perfectly, controlled with surprising ease and slotted home the fourth after 62 minutes.

Poor McShane, who had blundered and slipped through a personal nightmare, knew he was risking his Christmas bonus as Keane took out his frustration on his chewing gum.

Yakubu's second, and Everton's fifth, was the result of more pinball comedy in Sunderland's defence. Much more of this and they are going down.

Substitute Johnson's run-away contribution, Everton's sixth, was no more than this scintillating display deserved and Keane began to look more than capable of homicide.

But Everton had saved the best goal of all for last. Osman's surging, jinking solo run was reminiscent of Paul Gascoigne in his prime and the magnificent seven will live in the memory for a good while. Perhaps Moyes can send Steve McClaren a video of this perfection. It's never too late to learn, after all.

Moyes for England manager? It sounds crazy, and he probably wouldn't do it, but the thought was tempting after we had all been sent to footballing heaven.

Moyes said: "You get criticised if you don't play too up top but we scored seven goals because we have found a way that suits the players we have.

"That is the best performance since I've been here. You hope you can bottle it and keep producing it. But I sensed it was going to happen over the last couple of days in training and this was as much about the players in the stand as those on the pitch."

When asked whether his ability to run riot with a lone striker might make him a suitable candidate for the England job, Moyes said simply: "No. I'm ruling myself out."

His chairman Bill Kenwright enthused: "I'm ecstatic and it is the kind of day you dream about. I won't need a car to get me back down the motorway, I will be able to fly all the way home on my own."

Sunderland manager Keane had allowed his rage to pass by the time he faced the media after this abject humiliation.

He admitted: "It was very hard to take and I won't dress it up. This is a major setback,a major disappointment.

"I have never conceded seven goals as a player or manager. This was the first time and I hope it will be the last time. It is not nice and everyone is hurting. I am not going to blame individuals because everyone must take responsibility, me more than anyone else."