Full-time: Everton 0 Sunderland 2

DANNY GRAHAM ended his 28-month wait for a Sunderland goal by securing a fortuitous opener to give the Wearside club’s fight for Premier League survival a massive lift.

Graham, a £5m signing from Swansea in January 2013, helped Jordi Gomez’s shot beyond Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard eight minutes after half-time and the Black Cats dug deep to preserve the lead from there on in.

And when Jermain Defoe added a hard-earned second six minutes from time, which also had luck about it, Sunderland’s travelling supporters could seriously start to celebrate after seriously sensing another escape from relegation could be on the cards.

The goals secured Sunderland’s first away win of the year and it could prove priceless in the run-in after piling the pressure on the sides above them, including Newcastle, before the 3pm kick-offs had even started.

Dick Advocaat’s third win since taking over as head coach – securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season in the process - has lifted Sunderland out of the relegation zone, although that could change later today, ahead of next Saturday’s visit of Leicester.

The absence of John O’Shea with a rib injury meant one change was necessary for Sunderland, but Wes Brown was fit again after knee trouble to take his place at the heart of the defence and he did not disappoint.

Defensively it did not rock the boat too much, with Brown and Sebastian Coates making a number of blocks throughout.

Coates did get away with a clear handball when he stopped Seamus Coleman’s delivery from the right with his sliding foot and then his arm, although it would have been hugely unfortunate had referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot.

On the couple of occasions Romelu Lukaku worked his way behind the Sunderland defence he found goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon alert to the danger, twice denying the Belgium striker. The second time saw the loose ball drop to Leon Osman on the edge of the box and his shot was also held by the keeper.

Sunderland had a couple of half chances themselves, but Tim Howard in the Everton goal was not seriously tested. Advocaat had to come up with a way for his players to be more adventurous if three points were to return to Wearside with them.

And after the restart Everton were quickest out of the blocks. Sunderland’s goal led a charmed life when two early corners saw Connor Wickham almost turn a cross in to his own net from a header and the resulting corner needed Pantilimon to turn over Phil Jagielka’s header.

The nearest Sunderland came to scoring before Graham’s moment of good fortune was when the striker stretched to turn over Seb Larsson’s delivery. But, moments later, his time did arrive.

When Larsson’s cross was cleared, Gomez struck the rebound goalwards from distance and it was helped on by Graham. The ball lifted over the despairing dive of Howard, hit the foot of the post and nestled in the net. After that Everton pressed and pressed, with a number of Sunderland players making blocks to prevent a blue shirt from scoring. Then James McCarthy struck an incredible shot from 25 yards which crashed against the foot of the post and was cleared to safety.

But then Sunderland, against the run of play, added a much-needed second six minutes before the end. Substitute Steven Fletcher worked his way in to the box, passed to fellow sub Johnson after falling over.

Johnson’s shot took a deflection off McCarthy and hit Defoe’s knee before dropping over the line to give Sunderland the cushion required as Sunderland fans chanted ‘are you watching Newcastle?’ ahead of the Magpies’ game with West Brom.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines (Baines 74); McCarthy, Barry (Mirallas 63); Lennon, Barkley, Osman; Lukaku. Subs: Robles, McGeady, Kone, Naismith, Besic.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Pantilimon; Jones, Coates, Brown, van Aanholt; Larsson (Bridcutt 84), Cattermole, Gomez; Defoe, Graham (Johnson 74), Wickham (Fletcher 84). Subs: Mannone (gk), Reveillere, Buckley, Vergini.