Moyesy says: "It was a terrific three points on the back of the game in midweek. We had a late arrival back on Friday coupled with travelling up here yesterday. I keep getting told you don't win games after playing in Europe, but I think we are proving one or two people wrong on that case.

"We said to the players they had to put in a real professional performance today and a lot of people were maybe looking to see how we would react and the players certainly showed that by the performance and result today."

*

Match report by Ian Saunderson, Blue Kipper’s North East Correspondent

Going to the match with Mark, a Sunderland fan from my 5 a side game. On a day when Sunderland’s local rivals, Middlesbrough were playing in the FA Cup, he was delighted on the way to the ground; when we were in a corner shop Boro went 1-0 down, and when we were in the bookies they went 2-0 down. Despite this he was a realist about the prospects of his own team and put them down to lose 2-0. With Sunderland’s fine home record I went for 2-1 to the Blues.

Almost rumbled on the turnstiles as a friend of his asked, ‘Who’s the Everton fan behind you?’ A few awkward moments as all the Sunderland fans close by me had a good stare. My cover was blown, but I got safely inside. We sat in the SE stand, at the same end but in the opposite corner from the Everton fans. The visitor’s enclosure looked to be full. Important game for the fourth place push and also to restore confidence before the UEFA game against Fiorentina. Mikel Brown Eyes needed to play to recover his match fitness and to give us his decisive flair. Fortunately he did. With Carsley out with a one match ban, AJ came in to play alongside the Yak, Phil Neville playing the stopper role in front of the current back four.

First Half: Everton were solid at the back, but sometimes a bit hesitant in midfield, with a few passes going astray and some poor control. Cahill had an effort cleared off the line from a corner and with the ball headed back in, AJ could only head it over the bar. Sunderland came out of their own half well, but usually broke on the Blues’ back four. Howard did not have a save to make. It looked as if a mistake might lead to the first goal. Neville battled hard to win the ball when Sunderland played a ball down their left wing, he then had to wrestle two Black Cats for it. Having done all this he seemed to run out of energy, as he could only scuff his clearance straight to a Sunderland player. Fortunately Yobo was on hand to clear. Close to a punch up when Arteta was kicked on the floor after being fouled. Joleen was there and nobody fancied taking him on. Bizarre piece of non-refereeing by Alan Wiley when the Sunderland keeper was not penalized for picking up a back pass.

Second Half: More impressive work by the Yak, who looks a more complete forward every time I see him. He turns players well when he has his back to goal and from one of these he got forward into a dangerous area before the ball went wide to Hibbo. Hibbo’s cross was cleared, but Sunderland gave it straight back to the Yak. His cross from the right was too deep, but Peanuts collected the ball and laid it back to Arteta who put in a perfect cross to the near post. The two players who got closest were Cahill and AJ; just like Cahill’s goal against Pompey, but this time it was AJ who got a touch to the ball. The Sunderland fans had tried the ‘you stole my stereo’ chant a while before. Now they got back the ‘we stole your stereo’, which had some of the local fans around me smiling. Sunderland stepped up a gear and threw on their subs. We had to send Baines on for Peanuts after a horrendous challenge by Bardsley forced him to retire. In injury time Anichebe conceded a free kick in a dangerous position and got himself booked. Reid hit a great left footed shot which seemed to be destined for the top corner, but Howard flung himself late and tipped it over. He then had a save to make from the corner. Some good blocks by Jags earlier on had also protected the 1-0 lead.

It wasn’t the best football we can play, but it never looked as if we would concede. With Spurs getting a UEFA place via the Carling Cup and the FA Cup winners (though not if it is Cardiff) also getting a UEFA place that means only the team finishing fifth in the Premier League will qualify. So come on Villa, beat Liverpool to fifth and we’ll take fourth for the Champions League! Ian Saunderson, Blue Kipper’s North East Correspondent.

Match report By Graeme Holmes

At this stage of the season, results rather than performances matter to a large extent, and a win at Sunderland, coming on the back of the disappointment in Italy was vital, and we achieved it, although not in the manner that we have been accustomed to lately.

With Carsley suspended, AJ was predictably restored to the starting line up, as we went 4-4-2 against a side that we had scored 7 past earlier in the season. The Mackems who had 24 of their 27 Premiership points at home started with just Jones up front and Stokes in a wide position strengthening their midfield. He was eventually replaced at Half time by Chopra, who was deployed in a similarly non-dangerous position, and strangely they had Richardson in the middle of midfield, rather than out wide where he was most dangerous playing for the Mancs. Their left winger, Murphy had an uncanny resemblance to Kilbane, but overall they were largely ineffective

I was a bit concerned at our central midfield, as the Neville/Cahill combination is slightly non-creative, and the 1st half was a pretty dull affair with chances at a premium. We couldn’t seem to weight passes properly or find a team mate even from just a few yards away, and the nearest we came was when Cahill’s header was turned onto a post. I know with Carsley suspended and Ossie injured we didn’t have a lot of choice, but whenever a short pass was made from Jags or Yobo to Neville, it came straight back, and he seemed reluctant to turn and go forward. At the same time, the game seemed to pass Cahill by, and although he is dangerous in the box, he doesn’t seem to be able to create much as a midfielder, especially when alongside Neville

The goal came just after the break as a superbly floated cross from Mikel was elbowed in by AJ. It was a bit fortunate, but not as fortunate as the goals that the RS seem to get every week to help them on their way.

We held on well at the back and Howard’s save from the free kick by the rather large substitute, Lescott’s headed intervention soon after, and Jags’s superb block from Chopra’s turn and shot were the highlights of our defending. We didn’t give Gordon enough to do, and our lack of attempts at goal for the 2nd game running doesn’t bode well for our next game when we need to score at least 3. Big Vic looked lively in his cameo performance, and it was good to see Jack Rodwell introduced for his 1st premiership start and not look too overawed. The referee didn’t help us again – I saw 2 blatant pushes in the box before half time on Lescott and Yobo, and the foul by Bardsley on Pienaar was x-rated and deserved a straight red. How he then books Big Vic for a nothing challenge was beyond me.

Man of the match for me was Jags again, with Hibbo also doing well. However, we are back to winning ways, another clean sheet, and still up there with the RS. We need a big performance on Wednesday to stay in Europe, and lets hope we can do it. Graeme Holmes

*

After the disappointment of our UEFA Cup result in midweek, coupled with the shite's back to back home wins, the Blues for the first time in a long time, see themselves three points behind the Norwegians over at Analfield. That's the down side, the plus side though is that we have another crack at Fiorentina to put things right on Wednesday, and on Sunday we visit a team who admittedly have a good home record, but a team who we put seven goals past in a master class of football back in November.

This is a must win game though, as if we have any ambition of Champions League football next season, we must see of the likes of Sunderland. Moyesy has injury worries with Ossie who came off in the second half against Fiorentina, and with the man who replaced him Mikky Arteta. The Spanish magician should be ok, as he just needs some road miles under his belt, and hopefully he should be fresh after only playing thirty five minutes of football in the last month or so. Harry Hill is suspended, so Phil Neville will sit in the middle, Hibbo will keep his right back slot, with Jag, Roger and Joey. Me thinks AJ will get a run out up front with The Yak, as goals will be needed and we now know that this partnership can work.

The Blues are still unbeaten in the Prem in 2008, and if successful in beating Sunderland they will achieve their fifth double of the season. Our last four matches in the Prem on the road have yielded three wins and one draw, and that draw came at Blackburn when we were denied a win by incompetent officials. By the way guess who is refereeing tomorrow, the very same incompetent official, yes you owe us one Mr. Wiley.

Sausage's XI To Start: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Johnson, Yakubu

Everton from: Howard, Wessels, Hibbert, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Gardner, Lescott, Valente, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill, Fernandes, Yakubu, Johnson, Anichebe

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Mad Roy The Manager says: "It's a tough game against Everton. We got a good hiding there earlier in the season. But this is a game we're looking forward to. We've got one or two lads coming back looking sharp. Hopefully it will not be the same scoreline on Sunday."

Sunderland from: Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, McShane, Evans, Higginbotham, Harte, Whitehead, Etuhu, Reid, Leadbitter, Miller, Richardson, O'Donovan, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.