Donovan opens account in Toffees win

Goals from Tim Cahill and on-loan American Landon Donovan - his first for Everton - secured a comfortable 2-0 win at Goodison Park and increased the pressure on Sunderland manager Steve Bruce.

Cahill's seventh-minute header was added to by the Los Angeles Galaxy forward 11 minutes later.

Even from that early point Everton were able to coast home as they extended the Black Cats' woeful run to one win in their last 13 Barclays Premier League matches.

Visiting boss Steve Bruce dropped Liverpool target Kenwyne Jones to the bench. Centre-back Matthew Kilgallon was given a debut after moving from Sheffield United but, just seven minutes in, he failed to pick up Cahill - with dire consequences.

Leighton Baines overlapped and fed Marouane Fellaini, who crossed to the near post for the Australia midfielder to nod into the far corner of Craig Gordon's net.

Baines' long ball was then headed into Donovan's path by Cahill on the edge of the penalty area. The United States international made sure the ball was out of his feet before firing low left-footed past Gordon.

An injury to Kieran Richardson meant Jones was introduced in the 26th minute but the momentum was all with Everton and Leon Osman jinked through before curling straight at the keeper.

Cahill could have done better with a header from Louis Saha's knock-on, while Baines drove a free-kick straight at Gordon just before the interval.

Everton almost made it 3-0 in the 57th minute. Osman dispossessed Kilgallon and released Donovan who rounded Gordon but, with his shot destined for the net, George McCartney got across to block with his knee.

A minute later John Mensah's last-ditch tackle denied Saha as he raced clear, while Osman shot well wide when played in by Donovan.