LUK WHO’S SCORING TO DRAW LEVEL WITH BIG DUNC’S GOAL HAUL
That is his current goal haul to equal legend Duncan Ferguson’s record as the top Premier League scorer for Everton. And to kick sand in Sunderland’s face after Everton’s warm weather trip to Dubai, Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring and suddenly wondered how to celebrate himself.
It was Gueye’s first goal in 56 Premier League games for Aston Villa and now Everton.
He is yet to open his account for Senegal after 40 international matches.
So saying his debut strike was special was a massive understatement.
But the milestones did not end there. Leighton Baines chalked up his 300th Premier League game for Everton and, like Lukaku and Gueye, was all smiles at the final whistle.
That is 17 points for Ronald Koeman’s men in 2017 while former Everton boss David Moyes left his old stamping ground in a deep depression after winning just one of his last nine league games.
It is now a worrying 175 days in the relegation zone this season – more than any other side.
There was little to suggest Moyes would be on the end of another beating in the opening exchanges, when Everton’s lack of control in their passing and wayward shooting frustrated players and fans alike.
It was little wonder that Koeman had seen enough of his side’s sloppiness after just 30 minutes when he strode to his technical area and basically lost it.
The Dutch lover of pure football did not like what he was seeing and furiously waved his arms, Wenger style, in an attempt to wake up his dozing stars.
It did not work, certainly for that first 30 minutes.
There were some fleeting moments of hope when Ademola Lookman’s first-time shot squirmed out of Jordan Pickford’s grasp and the Sunderland keeper saved at the second attempt on the line.
And when Fabio Borini brought down Seamus Coleman just a fraction outside the box, Ross Barkley pulled his free-kick back for Lookman who ballooned over the bar.
Gueye showed intent in the 20th minute when he wriggled through and fizzed in a right-foot shot which hit Pickford on the ankle and rolled out for a corner.
But suddenly Everton sprang to life five minutes from the break. Coleman raced on Games: 239 Goals: 60 TIM CAHILL Games: 226 Goals: 56 KEVIN CAMPBELL Games: 145 Goals: 45 LEON OSMAN Games: 352 Goals: 44 DAVID UNSWORTH Games: 302 Goals: 33 PAUL RIDEOUT Games: 112 Goals: 29 TONY COTTEE Games: 68 Goals: 28 KEVIN MIRALLAS Games: 135 Goals: 28 LEIGHTON BAINES Games: 300 Goals: 27 second and match-clinching strike. Everton substitute Enner Valencia squandered the chance to grab a third when he ran on to a delightful Lukaku through ball but drove straight at Pickford. But the points had already been wrapped up by Koeman’s men.