Sunderland 1-1 Everton: Daily Mirror match report

Martin O’Neill suffered turf luck after Everton were gifted a point when Leon Osman kicked the pitch... and won a penalty.

Everton's lack of goals a massive concern - Moyes  

The Sunderland boss is hoping for an apology from Howard Webb after a “terrible” spot-kick decision­ denied Sunderland the win and left the World Cup Final referee embarrassed.

Webb was under the spotlight after one of the worst penalty awards of the season - given when Osman mistimed his 51st-minute shot and booted the turf, producing a divot that a hacking golfer would have been ashamed of.

But the Everton midfielder led the appeals for a penalty, opening himself to accusations­ of cheating from Sunderland fans. And, after thinking about it for a few seconds, Webb pointed to the spot.

Leighton Baines then converted to level the game after Jack Colback’s opener.

O’Neill went ballistic when informed by his staff – who had seen a replay – that it was never a penalty, but recovered his poise to be remarkably diplomatic post-match.

He even expressed sympathy for referees who have “the hardest job in the game”.

Everton chief David Moyes confessed: “It was a terrible decision by the ref. It wasn’t a penalty. I thought it was at first, but have seen it again. It is not a penalty.”

O’Neill, who has claimed seven points from his four games in charge, added: “That is kind of David. It is not a great decision from a top class ref. I did speak to Howard after the game. He had not seen it back. He thought there was contact. There wasn’t.

“I think that when one misses the ball completely you go down awkwardly. I wouldn’t attach any blame to the player.

“He has had an air-swing and missed it and is off balance. He has made a positive attempt and I don’t think he has tried to con anyone. It is disappointing.

“The penalty is a big incident in the match. I am quite sure the next time I will meet him, in about a year, he might [apologise]. They don’t tend to. Players and managers get things wrong. It is just disappointing.

“The job they [refs] do is the most difficult in the business. He is seven yards away, but only gets one look at it. It is a difficult task.

“I think I would have taken this points return when I took over. Before QPR, I would have taken four points from the two games coming up.”

It was a let-down for a bumper 43,619 Boxing Day crowd, who saw a lively contest played in an awkward blustery wind.

There was a sense of irony about Sunderland’s goal.

The club jettisoned one Geordie in a bid to spark a revival – but now, up steps another to become a favourite.

Colback was born on Tyneside and supported Newcastle as a boy but, unlike with O'Neill's sacked predecessor Steve Bruce, that has never counted against him on Wearside.­

The midfielder, 22, from Killingworth, scored his first Sunderland goal of his career.

From jeers of “Fat Geordie b*****d” for Bruce, perhaps a new chant for Colback: You Fab Geordie blaster.

Colback’s shot took a significant deflection off Sylvain Distin to give his side the lead. He was teed up by some fine work from Nicklas Bendtner and then Stephane Sessegnon, the brightest spark on the pitch, who slipped his team-mate in on goal.

It was Everton who looked sharpest early on.

Tony Hibbert’s ball over the top forced Wes Brown to scramble back, but he was beaten to it by Tim Cahilll - a man looking for his first goal in a year.

The Aussie struck his shot well, but it was from a tight angle and keeper Keiren Westwood saved.

Then, Louis Saha found himself with a free header at the back post from a corner, but the striker nodded tamely wide.

Next, Royston Drenthe lashed a drive from 25 yards the wrong side of the post. At the other end, Bendtner created openings aided by the lively Sessegnon, but the Dane delayed and was snuffed out.

Saha also headed over his own crossbar narrowly avoiding an own goal.

But Everton had late chances - an Osman shot and Distin volleying over right at the death.

Not a game that Webb will recall as his finest. And it will be interesting to see if the Premier League’s No.1 whistler­ will be ‘demoted’, like many of his colleagues would, for the next round of fixtures.