Tim Cahill opened the scoring on Wednesday night as Everton defeated Sunderland 2-0 at Goodison Park. The Australia international netted in just the 6th minute with a glancing header from the near post after Leighton Baines made a run down the left flank before playing the ball into Marouane Fellaini who chipped the ball into Cahill's path.

On loan USA star Landon Donovan added a second 13 minutes later when Cahill nodded the ball into his path on the edge of the penalty area and the LA Galaxy goalscorer made no mistake with his low left-footed shot.

Cahill was delighted to have scored just his third league goal of the season but preferred to praise the performance of his teammates.

"Lately it's been hard to get in the box and get free,'' he said.

"But sometimes when you play up there against the big centre-halves you have to do a job for your team and King Louis (Saha) has been on fire. We're a team who play for each other and if you work hard you get your rewards.''

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce rued the fact that his defenders allowed a player as dangerous as Cahill to get into a free scoring position.

"We didn't start in the right manner, didn't defend properly,'' he said.

"We've been talking the last few days about Tim Cahill arriving late in the box and six minutes in we allow him a free header. We have to do something, roll up our sleeves and keep fighting.''

The win kept Everton in ninth position in 29 points whilst Sunderland stayed in 13th on 23.