Hill Dickinson Stadium was virtually empty by the time Everton commenced their lap of appreciation, interest in the end-of-season ritual having somewhat evaporated along with the club’s European ambitions. Sunderland now carry European dreams of their own into the final day of an outstanding Premier League return.
Régis Le Bris’ side leapfrogged their opponents in the table courtesy of a commanding second-half display shaped by effective substitutions and an incisiveness that Everton lack. Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fée and substitute Wilson Isidor were all on target as Merlin Röhl’s first-half opener was consigned to irrelevance. The Europa or Conference League could be Sunderland’s reward for adapting seamlessly to the top flight should they defeat Chelsea at the Stadium of Light next Sunday.
“It’s on but it’s not done,” said Le Bris, whose team extinguished Everton’s FA Cup hopes earlier this year and all but ended their European ones here. “The most important thing is to stay focused because when we start dreaming probably it is a distraction. It’s a really good season. We hit the 40-point target early and were able to keep the consistency. The team showed they were still ambitious and played good football and now we have an opportunity to play an exciting fixture at home.”
The opposite is true of Everton. An unexpected shot at European qualification presented itself to David Moyes’ team following their rampant defeat of Chelsea on 21 March. They have not won in six matches since and their defensive foundations have crumbled. While Sunderland have won more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season, Everton are unable to hold a lead. The eighth league defeat at their new home was punishment for a dreadful, lackadaisical performance and confirmed the team are a long way off fulfilling their manager’s expectations.
Moyes said: “We are trying to build something that is going to be good as time goes on. We put ourselves in a decent position for most of the season to talk well about the team. I don’t feel like talking well about them today because it was a big moment for us and we weren’t able to take it. We need to find a way of improving and that mainly means we are going to have to bring in other players and see if we can step up again.”
Moving tributes were paid by both sets of supporters during the first half to Bradley Lowery and Michael Jones. Lowery, the young Sunderland mascot who raised more than £1m for charity before his death in 2017, was remembered on what would have been his 15th birthday with a standing ovation as the entire stadium sang his name. Bradley’s parents, Gemma and Carl, were present. A Sunderland fan and an Everton supporter also cycled to the game from the Stadium of Light to raise funds for the Bradley Lowery Foundation. There was also a warm ovation in the 26th minute on what would have been Jones’ 26th birthday. The Evertonian died while working on the construction of Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2023.
Quality was sorely lacking before the interval. Sunderland were the better, more controlled side but fell behind during Everton’s first sustained spell of pressure when Röhl’s shot from the edge of the area deflected off Granit Xhaka and left Robin Roefs rooted to the spot.
Le Bris’ team responded well after the restart. Nordi Mukiele and Trai Hume both tested Jordan Pickford before Sunderland levelled following a mistake by Jake O’Brien. The defender miscontrolled a long ball into the path of Le Fée, who released Brobbey into the area with a first-time pass. The Sunderland striker held off the attentions of James Tarkowski before burying a finish under Pickford.
Sunderland took the lead when substitutes Habib Diarra and Isidor combined to find Chemsdine Talbi, another second half introduction, inside the box. Talbi had the presence of mind to square to Le Fée, who squeezed a shot past Pickford. Diarra and Isidor then dissected Everton again to seal victory in stoppage time. Another low cross from the right by Diarra sailed across the home defence and was left by Séamus Coleman, who had arrived to a tumultuous reception for his final Everton appearance moments earlier. The unmarked Isidor converted at the back post to give Sunderland a deserved victory and a chance of taking their progress on to the European stage next season.
