Everton 3 Sunderland 0

NEWLY-appointed managers are always judged by their ability to improve on the results of their predecessor.

Considering that Sunderland lost 7-1 on their last trip to Goodison Park, Ricky Sbragia had an apparently simple task to show that his Sunderland team were capable of putting up a better showing than Roy Keane’s outfit.

But the Toffees’ dominance over a lacklustre Sunderland yesterday was every bit as comprehensive as last season’s Merseyside mauling.

David Moyes’ team have been struggling for goals of late, with an injury crisis robbing him of his first-choice strikers. It hardly showed, on an afternoon when Everton’s greater quality, and worryingly for Sbragia, greater desire, saw them pick apart Sunderland’s flimsy resolve.

Sbragia will have to draw on all of his powers of motivation to lift a side who looked devoid of ideas or belief.

He had hinted that, with only a day’s break since their tough Boxing Day encounter against Blackburn, he would rest some of his squad.

But with Anton Ferdinand and midfielder Andy Reid succumbing to a sickness bug, the new Sunderland boss was forced to ring the changes.

Kieran Richardson made the surprise switch to left back and Danny Collins partnering Nyron Nosworthy in central defence.

Dean Whitehead returned to central midfield and captained the side playing alongside Teemu Tainio, with Darryl Murphy handed a start on the left flank.

Keane became renowned for the odd shock selection, and Sbragia pulled a similar surprise by including Rade Prica, the forgotten man at the Stadium of Light, among the substitutes.

With no recognised strikers in their line-up, Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta led the Everton attack. It certainly didn’t dull the home side’s threat – their quality from set-pieces Sunderland’s wayward defending in the first half hinted at a repeat of last season’s result.

Arteta made the breakthrough on ten minutes when, from the edge of the box, he crashed home a free kick high to Marton Fulop’s left.

Everton quickly doubled their advantage when Arteta fired in another free kick that deflected off Teemu Tainio after Dean Whitehead had blocked the Spaniard’s initial effort.

Everton should have made it three when yet another Arteta free kick evaded the defence with Cahill heading wide from three yards.

With only half an hour gone the visitors were struggling to survive.

Sunderland lacked energy and imagination, especially in midfield, where Richardson’s quality was sorely missed.

The absence of Ferdinand’s calming presence at the back was also a key factor, with Collins in particular struggling to deal with the threat posed by the excellent Arteta.

Sbragia’s tactical nous has been the cornerstone of Sunderland’s recent improvement but the reshuffled line-up failed to gel. And the manager will have been angered by a poor showing from every member of his side, who appeared tired facing Everton’s bright, intelligent play.

Murphy’s lifeless performance on the left wing typified a first half showing where Sunderland failed to display any of their recent verve.

Carlos Edwards replaced Steed Malbranque at the interval, but in truth any of the side could have been withdrawn following a dismal opening.

The Trinidad and Tobago international added some much-needed pace to the attack.

His effort on 65 minutes was vintage Edwards, skipping past the challenge of Maroune Fellaini and Phil Neville. But his final shot was smothered by Tim Howard.

It was a rare involvement for the Everton keeper, with Moyes’ five-man midfield stifling Sunderland’s rare threats on goal.

David Healy came on for former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, who was roundly booed by the home support.

But it was another substitute, 18-year-old Dan Gosling, who made an impact.

Arteta continued to pull the strings in midfield and from the left played in Joleon Lescott, who fired a curling ball into the box for the unmarked Gosling to finish past Fulop.

Any chance of a Sunderland recovery was over.