Campbell dunks Reid deeper into the soup

Sunderland 0 Everton 1

Seven days may be a long time in politics, but for Peter Reid it must seem an alarmingly brief period in which to find a striker before next Saturday's transfer deadline. The only comfort must be that Saturday will put an end, albeit temporary, to the successive rumours of Kevin Phillips' possible transfer. With a ragged display at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland have enough to worry about.

Everton seem unable to cast off their traditional injury problems and were without eight players, including totem Duncan Ferguson and new signing, Joseph Yobo. Sixteen-year-old Wayne Rooney was named on the bench, the Goodison staff keen not to push his special talent too quickly. Sunderland's latest signing, Matthew Piper began on the bench as Reid gave Kevin Kyle his chance up front with Phillips.

Sunderland took the early initiative, Phillips hitting the bar after Richard Wright had blocked his close-range shot, then narrowly missing with a longer effort. After weathering the early storm, Everton fought back with Kevin Campbell and Tomasz Radzinski probing an increasingly fragile home defence. When Thomas Gravesen looped over a far-post cross on 28 minutes, Radzinski headed back across goal for Campbell to stab in from close range. For the remainder of the first half Everton continued to threaten, Niclas Alexandersson and Mark Pembridge roaming with impunity down the wings. Li Tie and Pembridge went close, while Gavin McCann's long-range effort was the Wearsiders's sole response.

Sunderland opened the second half with more purpose, Phillips hitting the bar again on 47 minutes before putting Kyle clean through on the hour. However the big striker wasted Sunderland's best chance, and soon left the field for Matthew Piper.

The arrival of Niall Quinn for Jason McAteer on 66 minutes almost swung the match for Sunderland. Under pressure from the big striker, Wright fumbled Reyna's free-kick over the line but referee Styles ruled the goal invalid. Three minutes later, Quinn won a penalty following a shove from Wright. Phillips' effort seemed true, but Wright dived low for an extraordinary save. The miss signalled sustained Sunderland pressure, Quinn hitting the post with a trademark header on 73 minutes from one of several corners.

Everton responded by bringing on Rooney and the game swung back to them. Whether the youngster lives up to the hype remains to be seen, but he already seems blessed with a muscularity and poise that look alarmingly like the finished article. Sunderland were unable to reply and the final whistle brought increased pressure on an already beleaguered Peter Reid.

While David Moyes tactfully acknowledged Sunderland's near misses, Reid accepted that close is never enough. For Sunderland the transfer clock is ticking and the next seven days could well determine the fate of their season. Everton fans have had little to celebrate of late, but with an astute new manager and a rising young star, the Goodison faithful may finally have some reasons to be cheerful.

Sunderland 0 Everton 1
Campbell 28

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 37,698