Everton boosted their bid to finish fourth with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sunderland after a drab affair at the Stadium of Light.
Johnson goal keeps Everton on track
Everton boosted their bid to finish fourth with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sunderland after a drab affair at the Stadium of Light.
Andy Johnson's somewhat fortunate second-half goal proved to be enough to give David Moyes' men all three points.
Johnson scored the only goal of the game on 55 minutes when he appeared to divert Mikel Arteta's cross into the net off his shoulder.
The win moves Everton level on points with Liverpool as the race to finish fourth hots up, while Sunderland remain in 16th spot.
Phil Jagielka forced Craig Gordon into the first save of the match in the 16th minute but his header looped softly to the Scot.
There were appeals from the crowd for a home penalty when Anthony Stokes' cross from the right was blocked by a jumping Joleon Lescott, but there were no obvious signs of handball.
Kenwyne Jones then pressured Tim Howard under a high ball but his presence was little more than nuisance value as clear opportunities remained thin on the ground.
That enthusiasm bubbled over soon after, Phil Bardsley fouling Arteta on the left. More worryingly, though, was what appeared to be a kick aimed at the floored Spaniard by the incoming Stokes.
Tim Cahill then had the chance to send the visitors in ahead but failed to beat Stokes on the line.
Johnson won the loose ball but will have been disappointed not to find the net with a header that sailed over the crossbar.
It looked like it would take a piece of luck to make something happen and it came when Arteta sent a searching cross into the Sunderland penalty area, with Johnson lurking.
Opener
At least three bodies surged towards the centre but it looked as though the final touch came from the former Crystal Palace striker's shoulder and the ball sailed over Gordon and into the net.
Johnson had another chance when he created space 10 yards out from Arteta's delivery but Nyron Nosworthy's last-ditch tackle smothered his shot.
Keane used his final substitute in the 75th minute, striker Rade Prica joining Michael Chopra and Andy Reid in coming from the bench.
But despite the increased attacking options, Sunderland could find no way past Everton, Chopra seeing his first shot blocked by a defender.
Chances did materialise, Jones working tirelessly to turn scraps into attempts on goal but Howard did a good job in dealing with the supply line.
There was nearly late drama when Reid produced a sterling free-kick in stoppage-time but Howard again excelled, tipping over to end the resistance.
