Sunderland 0, Everton 2: Steven Pienaar's wizardry kills off the Cats

Agonising setbacks have been nothing new for the Blues this season with boss David Moyes battling against a hefty casualty list.

However, if there is one quality this closely-knit squad oozes more than any other it is resilience.

This lot roll with the punches and the Blues emphatically answered Moyes' demand that momentum is maintained.

Victory lifted them into fifth place for the first time this season and with home dates against Spurs and West Ham followed by a final day trip to Fulham there's a good chance they will finish there.

Considering the injuries and the limited size of Moyes' squad that would be a remarkable achievement.

Steven Pienaar was the architect of this triumph as he brought a poor contest to life in the second half.

The South African broke the deadlock with a cool finish just after the break and then provided the cross for Marouane Fellaini to settle proceedings.

In truth the Blues barely had to get out of second gear to do the double over a wretched Sunderland side.

Locals had been desperately searching for lucky omens on the back of their embarrassing 3-0 defeat at rock-bottom West Brom.

Apparently no visiting team have lost more games or conceded more league goals on Wearside than Everton.

It was also 12 years to the day since Sunderland beat the Blues 3-0 in the last ever league game at Roker Park.

However, the harsh truth is that there is now a massive gulf between these two clubs.

While Everton eye a piece of silverware and another European adventure, the Black Cats may have to adjust to life back in the Championship.

Sunderland can currently lay claim to being the North East's top club but that's nothing to boast about these days.

Weekend defeats for West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle should have provided the perfect incentive for them to fly out of the traps and try to take a giant step closer to safety.

In reality they appeared stricken by fear and they remain just four points clear of the drop zone with trips to Bolton and Portsmouth followed by a home date with Chelsea.

In his programme notes boss Ricky Sbragia had called on his players to replicate the passion and commitment showed by Moyes' men this season.

"If anyone wants to see where hard work takes you there is no better example than Everton who are a team everyone admires and with good reason," he wrote.

"They have a great work ethic and under David Moyes have done extremely well."

His players did too much admiring as they backed off and allowed Everton to boss the contest.

Moyes made five changes to the side beaten by Manchester City as Joleon Lescott was recalled in place of the injured Jagielka, while Dane Lars Jacobsen replaced Tony Hibbert at right-back.

Hibbert and Leon Osman both added to Moyes' selection headache by failing pre-match fitness tests.

Dan Gosling and Tim Cahill returned to the midfield in place of Segundo Castillo and Osman, while on-loan striker Jo was handed a starting spot with Louis Saha dropping to the bench.

The first half was largely a non-event with Sunderland reluctant to commit players forward and Everton failing to make their possession count.

Martin Fulop was called upon to punch away Tim Cahill's early header but neither keeper had a serious save to make.

The only danger for the Blues was self-inflicted as Joseph Yobo's error allowed Djibril Cisse to tee up Kenwyne Jones but he lifted his shot over.

It was the only time Yobo, who was making his 200th Premier League appearance, put a foot wrong as he impressed alongside Lescott.

Pienaar was at the heart of everything that was best about the Blues, cutting inside and relishing the acres of space afforded to him by the Black Cats.

Some slick build up play involving Pienaar and Leighton Baines carved the Black Cats open midway through the half but Jo dragged his shot wide of the far post.

The home fans had started off in good voice - mocking Alan Shearer and celebrating Newcastle's misery at Anfield earlier in the afternoon.

However, their delight soon turned to frustration and then anger as their side, who were beaten 3-0 at Goodison last December, got progressively worse.

Yobo produced a timely interception to deny Cisse a clear run on goal but there was precious little else to concern Everton's backline.

With Baines frequently raiding down the left flank there were plenty of promising moments for the Blues but a lack of quality in the final third ensured entertainment was at a premium.

However, that all changed inside three minutes of the restart as Everton deservedly went in front.

Phil Neville found Jo on the edge of the box and the Brazilian turned provider by feeding the ball into Pienaar's path.

There was plenty for the former Ajax midfielder still to do but he held off the challenge of Phil Bardsley and prodded his second goal of the season past Fulop.

The goal finally awoke Sunderland from their slumber and lifelong Evertonian Danny Collins should have equalised but powered a bullet header straight at Tim Howard.

The American shot-stopper was also called on to keep out Kieran Richardson's free-kick but he was never seriously tested.

Everton always looked likely to add to their tally and Fellaini finally killed off the Black Cats 20 minutes from time.

Pienaar was afforded the freedom of the right flank and had all the time he needed to pick out the Belgian, who slotted past Fulop from 10 yards.

It was too much for thousands of the home fans to take as they raced for the exit doors.

But the travelling army from Goodison lapped it up as for the fourth successive time the Blues returned home with maximum points from Sunderland's Stadium of Light.