Full-time: Sunderland 1 Everton 1

LEIGHTON BAINES’ 76th-minute penalty denied Sunderland victory as Everton came from behind to claim a point in a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Baines converted from the spot nine minutes after Seb Larsson’s curled free-kick had threatened to earn the Black Cats a second successive win on the back of last Monday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Larsson found the bottom left-hand corner from 25 yards out after Baines had fouled Will Buckley, but a draw was probably a fair result from a game between two closely-matched opponents.

Costel Pantilimon turned Romelu Lukaku’s second-half strike onto the post, but neither side was able to carve out too many chances despite displaying plenty of endeavour.

Sunderland saw Connor Wickham fail to find the target with two early headers, before Tim Howard was finally forced into a save nine minutes before the interval as he thrust out a leg to keep out Jordi Gomez’s low strike.

Everton lost Gareth Barry to a tenth-minute tackle from Gomez that earned a booking, and the Sunderland midfielder was fortunate to avoid picking up a second yellow card when he went down extremely easily on the edge of the area looking to win a free-kick.

The visitors’ best first-half chance fell to Ross Barkley, but after a neat one-two with Aiden McGeady threatened to open up the Sunderland defence, the England international saw his shot blocked by an excellent sliding challenge from Liam Bridcutt, who was largely impressive in place of the suspended Lee Cattermole.

Bridcutt’s only error came five minutes after the break, but while his misplaced back-pass afforded Lukaku a clear run into the area, Pantilimon got down well to prevent the Everton striker from going around him.

Pantilimon produced an equally significant save six minutes later, turning Lukaku’s fierce drive against the post, and Sunderland claimed the lead in the 67th minute.

Baines fouled substitute Will Buckley 25 yards out, and Larsson stepped up to curl a fantastic free-kick mover the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner.

However, the hosts’ lead lasted just nine minutes before Everton were level from the spot. Wickham chopped down Seamus Coleman with a desperate sliding challenge, and after referee Lee Mason waved away some vociferous Sunderland protests, Baines drilled home from the spot.

Sunderland almost claimed a winner in stoppage time, but James McCarthy produced an excellent goalline clearance to prevent Wes Brown heading home Bridcutt’s cross.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon; Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Bridcutt; Johnson (Buckley 64), Larsson, Gomez (Rodwell 81), Wickham; Fletcher.

Subs (not used): Mannone (gk), Robson, Mavrias, Graham, Altidore.

Everton (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry (Gibson 13); McGeady (Naismith 70), Eto’o, Barkley (Osman 86); Lukaku.

Subs (not used): Robles (gk), Hibbert, Besic, Atsu.