Sunderland received an unexpected assist in their bid for

Premier League

survival as Everton pressed the self-destruct button on their unbeaten home league run in 2013.

A calamitous error from Leon Osman resulted in a red card for Tim Howard after 23 minutes and a winner from the penalty spot for Ki Sung-yueng.

While the Everton goalkeeper walked, Sunderland's Vito Mannone excelled to preserve a crucial three points for Gus Poyet's team.

Osman was true to Roberto Martínez’s instructions – and its inherent risks – in building from the back when he ran from the halfway line to show for a goal-kick from Howard.

Osman received it, then lost it with a poor first touch that gifted possession to Ki on the edge of the penalty area. The South Korean rounded Howard but was clipped by the goalkeeper for a clear red card and the penalty that followed.

The reactions of Osman and Howard were telling, and both their afternoons were over as the midfielder gave way to the substitute goalkeeper, Joel Robles.

Ki, scorer of Sunderland's League Cup quarter-final winner against Chelsea, kept his composure to beat Robles convincingly from the spot.

Martínez immediately switched to a 4-3-2 with Kevin Mirallas joining Romelu Lukaku in attack, before he disappeared down the tunnel for an apparent toilet break for four minutes to leave Everton with nine men.

A fifth booking of the season for Barry means they will be without both the influential midfielder and their first-choice keeper for Southampton's visit on Sunday.

Mannone was finally beaten by Nikica Jelavic's diving header from the resulting corner, but the on-loan Liverpool striker Fabio Borini was on the line to clear. –
Guardian Service