Everton left it late to secure an important Premier League point at the Stadium of Light.
Marouane Fellaini was the man to deliver the late Christmas present, lashing in an equaliser five minutes from time.
Sunderland's England striker Darren Bent had given the Black Cats a first half lead but the Toffees' equaliser was reward for their much improved second half display.
Bent underlined his threat as early as the sixth minuted when he headed Andy Reid's left wing free kick over the bar.
Saha uses his dexterity to control a high pass
Everton responded and in the ninth minute some decent approach play culminated in Leon Osman curling in a shot that shaved the post.
Then Louis Saha went close with a couple of quickfire efforts and with the game heating up, Kenwyne Jones soon tested Howard with a crisp effort on the turn.
And the Trinidad and Tobago international striker then turned provider as he whipped in a delicious ball that Bent headed firmly past Tim Howard.
Lucas Neill then blocked another goalbound Bent effort as Sunderland sought to extend their lead.
The Belgian smashes home the leveller
Everton perhaps lacked confidence in the final third and Steven Pienaar's effort was deflected over ten minutes before half time and Neill cleared off the line again before the break, this time repelling Reid's direct free kick.
And just before the half time whistle Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was wasteful when well placed inside the Sunderland box.
Fellaini nodded a Leighton Baines corner just wide in the first minute of the second period.
Ther Blues looked much more dangerous and sonn Saha slashed a volley wide after Bilyaletdinov had flicked on another Baines centre.
Fellaini celebrates
Bent fired over at the other end as the home side countered and sub Bolo Zenden could also have doubled Sunderland's lead before the hour mark.
Neither player went as close as Paulo Da Silva, who was denied by a splendid Howard save in the 68th minute.
David Moyes threw on Yakubu with 20 minutes left and he was involved as Pienaar lashed an effort just wide from 25 yards out.
Saha stabbed wide and then Fellaini smashed home the equaliser with five minutes left.
The Belgian took Tony Hibbert's ball down and rifled an untoppable strike past Martin Fulop, right in front of the travelling Evertonians.
Jordan Henderson went worryingly close for the home side at the death but Everton returned to Merseyside with a point.
Your Comments
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david harman
I think some of the team have lost the will to get stuck in, I wonder if they are trying to aviod injuries the would make it almost impossible for D.M to field a team, it`s time to call on the youngsters,time foe Coleman .
Sunday 27th Dec 2009 17:16
Mohammad Halimi Bin Abdul Halim
we r jus luck to 2 earn a point.
Sunday 27th Dec 2009 15:53
MAGIC SERB
LET`S GO EVERTON!!!!!! SERBIAN SQUAD EVERTON F.C.
Sunday 27th Dec 2009 15:00
Riduan Mohd
I dont quite understand why we have to play with one striker all the time.. come on moyes, unleash our strikers saha and yakubu and im sure there will be goals galore.. if not we will be scrapping for a goal or 2
Sunday 27th Dec 2009 13:27
Carl Hammond
another good draw but come on everton please win the more the better please thats all i want !!
Saturday 26th Dec 2009 19:37
James Roberts
its a good job fellaini got that equaliser because we would be even closer to relegation than we are now, i thought we were on the up, lets get back to winning ways against burnley on monday. all blues should get behind the lads on monday and make the atmosphere electric. coyb
Saturday 26th Dec 2009 18:03
Petter Togstad
Hope Donavon help us as much McBirde did some yers ago, 1 shot @ target!! COYB!!
Saturday 26th Dec 2009 18:00
Jonathan Hull
Fair result but we need to get three points against Burnley and move up the table. A top 6 finish is not beyond us if we get the likes of Jagielka, Neville, Rodwell and even Arteta back. COYBs!
Saturday 26th Dec 2009 17:26
James Wilkinson
I felt that everton deserved all 3 pts, for the whole game we seemed to dominate possession. The referee was an absolute joke, seemed like all his decisions favoured Sunderland. Now, Burnley is a must win. COYB!!! P.S Moyes Please play 2 strikers!!!
Saturday 26th Dec 2009 16:59
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