It was the only time Yobo, who was making his 200th Premier League appearance, put a foot wrong as he impressed alongside Lescott.

Pienaar was at the heart of everything that was best about the Blues, cutting inside and relishing the acres of space afforded to him by the Black Cats.

Some slick build up play involving Pienaar and Leighton Baines carved the Black Cats open midway through the half but Jo dragged his shot wide of the far post.

The home fans had started off in good voice – mocking Alan Shearer and celebrating Newcastle’s misery at Anfield earlier in the afternoon.

However, their delight soon turned to frustration and then anger as their side, who were beaten 3-0 at Goodison last December, got progressively worse.

Yobo produced a timely interception to deny Cisse a clear run on goal but there was precious little else to concern Everton’s backline.

With Baines frequently raiding down the left flank there were plenty of promising moments for the Blues but a lack of quality in the final third ensured entertainment was at a premium.

However, that all changed inside three minutes of the restart as Everton deservedly went in front.

Phil Neville found Jo on the edge of the box and the Brazilian turned provider by feeding the ball into Pienaar’s path.

There was plenty for the former Ajax midfielder still to do but he held off the challenge of Phil Bardsley and prodded his second goal of the season past Fulop.

The goal finally awoke Sunderland from their slumber and lifelong Evertonian Danny Collins should have equalised but powered a bullet header straight at Tim Howard.

The American shot-stopper was also called on to keep out Kieran Richardson’s free-kick but he was never seriously tested.

Everton always looked likely to add to their tally and Fellaini finally killed off the Black Cats 20 minutes from time.

Pienaar was afforded the freedom of the right flank and had all the time he needed to pick out the Belgian, who slotted past Fulop from 10 yards.

It was too much for thousands of the home fans to take as they raced for the exit doors.

But the travelling army from Goodison lapped it up as for the fourth successive time the Blues returned home with maximum points from Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.