Player Ratings: Everton 2-0 SAFC - Vote for your man of the match!

Jordan Pickford - 6

Pretty shaky return for Pickford. Spilled an early shot which had to be scrambled off the line while his kicking was wayward but admittedly it is to be expected after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Made crucial saves from both Idrissa Gueye and Romelu Lukaku either side of half time.

Billy Jones - 5

Didn't know how to deal with Gueye early on, didn't get much better. Made a good flick-on header in the second half but obviously no-one picked up.

Bryan Oviedo - 6

Was targeted early on by Everton and struggled to cope with Seamus Coleman down the right hand side. Grew in confidence later on in the game but left woefully exposed for Everton's second.

Lamine Kone - 5

Was clear why John O'Shea was designated to stick with Lukaku. Kone was turned by the Belgian striker every time he got into a 1-on-1 situation and got out of jail when Pickford made an important save.

John O'Shea - 6

Managed shackle Lukaku well throughout the game but looked completely helpless for the first goal, like the rest of them to be fair.

Darron Gibson - 5

Booked in the first half for a daft challenge on Lookman. Failed to keep up with the pace of the game and made plenty of wayward passes - he's already looking the quintessential Sunderland signing.

Didier Ndong - 6

Seemed to be the only one of the midfield trio to want to push us forward. Seemed to be doing the work of two players alongside the DREADFUL Seb Larsson. Lovely tribute to Nyron Nosworthy in the first 45 minutes by pumping the ball out for a corner from his own half.

Sebastian Larsson - 3

I think we've finally reached the point where it's time to take ol'Sebber round the back of the barn and do what is necessary. Obviously, I don't mean actually kill him but he is not fit for purpose anymore. Awful set piece delivery for what seems like the millionth game in a row. Gives away needless fouls constantly and just, just, oh just do one, mate.

Fabio Borini - 4

I am so sick of Fabio Borini. Stropped around the pitch, never tracked runners, puts in the minimal effort and gave his full backs absolute zero cover. You can do one as well.

Adnan Januzaj - 5

A constant theme of being our only creative outlet but frustrating as anything. Luckily we've only three more months of him to endure.

Jermain Defoe - 5

Think he had a total of two touches in the first half and then had our one and only glorious chance. Not one to have a go at our best player by far but the passage of play following that chance shows he really needs to be burying them when they come up. Harsh perhaps, but that's the position we're in.

Substitutes:

Wahbi Khazri (for Fabio Borini) - 5

Substitution made entirely redundant as we conceded ten seconds before he came on.

George Honeyman (for Darron Gibson) - 5

See Khazri, would've been an interesting move had we just conceded and the game wasn't completely dead.

Javier Manquillo (for Billy Jones) - 5

Brought on in the dying minutes for the injured Billy Jones, don't know if he did owt.