Premier League: Sunderland 2 Everton 2

Danny Welbeck continued on from where he left off at Chelsea last week, scoring a brace in Sunderland’s 2-2 draw with Everton on Monday.

The on-loan Man United striker outshone Darren Bent up front after the late withdrawal of record-signing Asamoah Gyan through injury and was easily Sunderland’s most dangerous attacking player at the Stadium of Light.

But it was not enough to deny David Moyes’ men a deserved share of the spoils after the Merseysiders showed more than enough attacking enterprise of their own to have won the game.

Everton drew first blood, taking the lead in just the fifth minute of the match, despite the home team’s positive start.

And it was Sunderland’s nemesis, Tim Cahill, who once again inflicted misery on the Wearsiders with his seventh goal in 10 games against the side.

The goal came from a finely-worked move, Stephen Pienaar and Leighton Baines linking well before the left-back delivered the ball into the box and Cahill nodded a trademark header home.

Sunderland responded well, dominating possession and finally got their equaliser in the 23rd minute with a goal created by Bolo Zenden, who put in a low cross which Welbeck turned in with his left-foot at the near post.

Tim Cahill looked as though he might get his second in the 55th minute when he got past Anton Ferdinand and lobbed Gordon but Michael Turner cleared off the line.

In the end it was Welbeck who ended the night with a brace – he produced a classic header which looked for some time as though it might have won the game for Sunderland.

It came in the 70th minute when Kieran Richardson’s ball into the box from the right was glanced over Tim Howard at the near post and into the far corner.

Everton dominated the match in the last 20 minutes but were frustrated as Sunderland defended doggedly.

But the otherwise quiet Mikel Arteta found space to drive in a shot from 20 yards which Phil Bardsley deflected into his own goal.

With neither side able to find a winner the spoils were shared, and in an exciting match between two sides committed to attack it would have been tough for either team to have lost.