Toffees shrug off defeat

Everton captain Phil Jagielka feels it may not be an entirely bad thing that the club have fallen just short of going the whole of 2013 unbeaten at home in the Premier League.

The Toffees went into their St Stephen’s Day clash against Sunderland knowing they only had to avoid defeat in that match and the visit of Southampton tomorrow to pull off the feat.

But their hopes were ended as the Black Cats, the division’s bottom side, emerged with a surprise 1-0 away win thanks to a penalty from Ki Sung-yueng after he had been fouled by Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was sent off for the indiscretion.