A look at some of the moments beyond the headlines of Everton's draw at Sunderland
Jordan Pickford reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Jordan Pickford reacts during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
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Everton left the Stadium of Light with a draw that felt like both a victory and a defeat.
For 30 minutes they dominated Sunderland - to the point where conversations between North East-based reporters in the press box reached the view it was the first time this season that the newly-promoted side had looked overwhelmed by an opponent.
But the visitors were unable to exploit their superiority and the failure to build on Iliman Ndiaye’s opener allowed the hosts to fight back into the match. By the end, Everton greeted the final whistle with relief. This is a look at some of the moments beyond the headlines from the match.
Jordan Pickford’s anguish at James Tarkowski intervention
Jordan Pickford’s face said it all after Granit Xhaka’s shot was deflected past him to bring Sunderland level on Monday night. The England number one was a picture of anguish as he looked to captain James Tarkowski and remonstrated with the centre back for sticking a leg out to block the shot.
The effort was set to be a comfortable save for the keeper until it was diverted away from his dive and his frustration appeared to be that Tarkowski had not left it for him to deal with. The goal proved crucial, spurring on the home supporters and allowing the Mackems to continue the momentum they had ended the first half with.
Everton did not recover, though they did hang on for a point that felt like a valuable one given the struggle of the second half - one Moyes conceded was “poor”. Pickford’s concerns about those blocking shots in front of him went unheeded and he had to produce an important save when an Enzo le Fee strike was deflected away from him moments after the equaliser.
England number one takes in adoration from both ends
Pickford was a focal point throughout this match on his first return to Sunderland since leaving them for Everton in 2017. He has remained an avid supporter of his boyhood club and watched them win promotion from the Championship last season, ending a long and tortuous stint outside the top flight.
When his name was read out before the game it was greeted with applause from the home crowd who, after the final whistle, cheered him off the pitch while singing: “He’s one of our own.”
The love came from both directions, too, with the away end regularly breaking into the “dynamite” song that was created for him at the end of last season.
David Moyes is on the pitch
While this was a game in which the positive relationship between the two clubs was always clear, during the 90 minutes passions still ran high. This included in the dugouts. In the second half, Jack Grealish was caught by a wild lunge from Trai Hume that left him writing in pain. Moyes was so alarmed by the incident he leapt onto the pitch in what appeared to be a combination of anger and concern.
Hume was booked for the tackle and Moyes later agreed with the suggestion his playmaker deserved great protection. In recent weeks he has been on the receiving end of several poor challenges, including from Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro and Aston Villa’s Evann Guessand.
And then he had his head in his hands
Moyes was an active figure on the touchline, living through the emotions of the game. His fury at the challenge on Grealish was in stark contrast to his disbelief when, amid a tangle of legs, Vitalii Mykolenko appeared to give up too early on a ball he thought was heading out for a throw-in.
Sunderland seized on the chance and picked up the loose ball to launch another foray down Everton’s left and, as it unfolded, Moyes simply stood with his hands on his head for a number of seconds.
Two clubs unite to highlight what really matters
There are more important things in life in football and this was an occasion in which that was made crystal clear. Sunderland supporter Bradley Lowery captured hearts around the world as he battled neuroblastoma before passing away at the age of six. He struck up a particularly close relationship with Everton, with former chairman Bill Kenwright offering him and his awareness-raising efforts significant support.
Bradley’s mum Gemma attended Everton’s home game with West Ham United as the club supported the work of the Bradley Lowery Foundation set up in his memory. On Monday night, Everton were led out by a nine-year-old Sunderland supporter called Reuben, who has been battling leukaemia, after donating their mascot experience to the charity. The game also started with the home end unfurling a giant flag with Bradley on it, along with the caption: “There’s only one Bradley Lowery.”
The stadium erupted in applause in the ninth minute too in a touching tribute to nine-year-old Anna Bradley, a Sunderland fan who lost her battle with a rare blood cancer last week.