Full-time: Sunderland 1 Everton 1

MORE signs of progress; more evidence of a continued propensity to shoot themselves in the foot. It is one step forward, one step back for Sunderland at the moment, but that still represents a significant improvement from where things were seven days ago.

Back then, the Black Cats were still reeling from the joint-heaviest defeat in their history and a subsequent home reverse to Arsenal, so while yesterday’s concession of a crucial second-half penalty might have extended the list of self-inflicted wounds that have damaged Gus Poyet’s side recently, the fact the hosts were still able to make it four points in a week is proof that last month’s St Mary’s horror show is out of their system.

Resolute, organised and energetic throughout, Sunderland’s display was the antithesis of their south coast surrender, and for all that Connor Wickham’s impetuousness ultimately cost them two points, with the striker clattering into Seamus Coleman as the Everton full-back forged his way onto Samuel Eto’o’s through ball, there was much to admire in the hosts’ committed display.

A lack of creativity remains a concern, and Tim Howard was not really tested either side of Seb Larsson’s deliciously-curled free-kick that broke the deadlock and threatened to earn what would have been a third league win of the season.

Wes Brown went close in stoppage time, with a powerful header that James McCarthy athletically hacked off the line, and Howard almost gift-wrapped another late opportunity when he threatened to handle the ball outside his area, only to slide onto it on his chest.

Lee Mason’s failure to penalise the Everton goalkeeper infuriated the home support, who had already been enraged by the decision to award the decisive 76th-minute spot-kick. However, both calls were correct, with Wickham making contact with Coleman before touching the ball, and on another day, Mason might well have dismissed Wickham and Jordi Gomez, who was fortunate to avoid a second booking for a clear dive towards the end of the first half.

Still though, Poyet will have been pleased with Sunderland’s solidity, with Wickham and Adam Johnson tracking back assiduously in the wide attacking positions and Liam Bridcutt proving a more than capable deputy for the suspended Lee Cattermole at the base of midfield.

This remains a side with some square pegs in round holes, most notably Wickham and Santiago Vergini, who looks more comfortable at centre-half than full-back, but given Sunderland’s position in the bottom half of the table and the fact they had conceded 11 goals in their three previous outings, there was much to be said for being hard to break down.

Everton are not the free-flowing force that swept to European qualification last season, but in the likes of Baines, Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o, they nevertheless boast players capable of slicing the best-drilled defences apart.

Prior to the move that led to the penalty, Everton only really did that once yesterday, with Bridcutt producing an excellent sliding intervention to deny Ross Barkley after the England international had played a slick one-two with Aiden McGeady.

When he arrived from Brighton, with a personal recommendation from Poyet ringing in his ears, Bridcutt looked like being a key component of Sunderland’s first-choice midfield.

It hasn’t really worked out that way, partly because of the 25-year-old’s lack of form and partly because of Cattermole’s renaissance, but save for one awful second-half back-pass that almost resulted in a goal for Lukaku, this was finally a performance that suggests he can ally a combative edge to the positional discipline he undoubtedly possesses.

That said, however, his 50th-minute error was almost catastrophic, with his errant pass affording Lukaku a clear run on goal, only for Costel Pantilimon to spare his blushes as he got down effectively to prevent Everton’s leading goalscorer from taking the ball around him.

Everton lost their own defensive screen, Gareth Barry, to a tenth-minute challenge from Gomez that earned the Sunderland midfielder a booking and led to the former England international leaving the field with a suspected broken leg.

Gomez’s tackle was mistimed rather than malicious, but he was fortunate to avoid a second booking 18 minutes later as he went down looking for a free-kick on the edge of the area just as Phil Jagielka pulled out of a challenge to avoid making contact. Mason wasn’t fooled by the dive, so Gomez was fortunate to avoid further censure.

Sunderland had threatened twice by that stage, but while Larsson found Wickham with two early corners, the striker was unable to find the target with either of his headers. Neither was an easy opportunity, but if Wickham wants to displace Steven Fletcher as his side’s central striker, he cannot afford to pass up chances to test the opposition goalkeeper quite as regularly as he does.

Tim Howard only had to make one save before the interval, parrying Gomez’s low 36th-minute shot with his legs, and while Pantilimon was not really extended much either, the Sunderland goalkeeper made a crucial intervention 11 minutes after the interval.

Eto’o’s driving run enabled him to release Lukaku down the left, and after surging past a flat-footed Vergini, the striker drove in a ferocious strike that Pantilimon did well to turn onto the outside of the post.

The save was a pivotal one, as ten minutes later, Sunderland claimed the lead. Will Buckley’s introduction from the substitute bench did not go down well, primarily because Johnson was the player selected by Poyet to make way, but the Brighton winger’s first contribution was a mazy run that was halted by Baines’ crude foul.

Larsson’s set-pieces can vary from the sublime to the ridiculous, but this was one of the Swede’s better efforts, with his 25-yard strike arcing over the wall and beating Howard’s left hand to nestle in the bottom left-hand corner. It was his second goal of the season, adding to the late equaliser that earned a point at West Brom on the opening weekend.

It was not decisive, however, as Baines drilled home from the spot to earn Everton a point they probably deserved. McCarthy’s stoppage-time clearance was the final piece of action, with Brown unable to extend his scoring run by finding the goal at the right end of the pitch.