Tuesday 13 September 2016 09:09, UK
Romelu Lukaku ended his goal drought with an 11-minute hat-trick to send Everton third in the Premier League with a 3-0 win at Sunderland.
The Belgian striker had last scored for his club in March and looked to be floundering once again when he had a header saved in an even first half.
He struck three times in 11 minutes after the break, however, as the magnificent Idrissa Gueye then Yannick Bolasie set him up before Kevin Mirallas released him for his clincher.
Everton could have gone second in the table with a fourth goal but are tucked in just behind Chelsea on goal difference.
Sunderland remain second bottom, with David Moyes losing for the third time in as many games against the Merseysiders since he left Goodison Park for Manchester United in 2013.
Moyes' pre-match request to fans for patience as he bids to get things right at the Stadium of Light will have carried more weight initially as his side contributed well at first.
Everton always looked a little more likely to score, but Jermain Defoe should have had an opener 10 minutes into the contest.
Adnan Januzaj showed great feet on the edge of the area before Defoe was fed via a deflection and he lifted a sloppy effort over the bar.
Everton had already had one attempt through Gueye but their next attack was much better, with Lukaku's header saved well by Jordan Pickford after Bolasie's right-wing cross.
Lukaku had another go soon after as he and Jack Rodwell traded opportunities at opposite ends before Lynden Gooch also forced Maarten Stekelenburg into a decent stop.
Everton made a tactical switch at the break as Ross Barkley was replaced by Gerard Deulofeu and the change brought rewards as the tempo increased and they began to dictate much more.
Pickford was equal to a wicked dipping effort from Bolasie then Deulofeu and Lukaku both went close in a move which had players queuing up to tap in.
It took an hour for the away side to make their breakthrough and when they did, it was through Lukaku.
Gueye's lofted ball to the back post was perfect and Lukaku rose to nod in and end a run of 1,139 minutes without netting.
Just eight minutes later, he had his second, supplied this time with a sumptuous cross from Bolasie which he again headed over line.
By now, Sunderland were in disarray and Everton were given far too much space in central midfield with Mirallas eventually threading through Lukaku, whose stroked finish was emphatic and drew little effort from Pickford.
With that, the win was assured and despite Deulofeu's efforts at getting a fourth, manager Ronald Koeman will have to settle for third place in the standings for now.
Sunderland: Pickford (7), Manquillo (5), Kone (5), Djilobodji (6), van Aanholt (5), Rodwell (5), Kirchhoff (6), Januzaj (7), Gooch (6), Watmore (6), Defoe (5)
Subs: Khazri (4), Ndong (3), Denayer (3)
Everton: Stekelenburg (6), Coleman (7), Williams (6), Jagielka (7), Baines (6), Gueye (8), Barry (6), Mirallas (7), Barkley (6), Bolasie (8), Lukaku (8)
Subs: Deulofeu (6), Davies (3), Kone (1)
Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku
