Everton have dominated the first half of Monday's Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, but Ronald Koeman's side have been unable to find a route past inspired goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Jan Kirchhoff returned to the Sunderland XI after missing the opening weeks of the season with a hamstring problem, but the club's record signing Didier Ndong was only on the bench for the home side.
Everton had a half-chance inside the first minute when Yannick Bolasie delivered a dangerous cross into the path of Romelu Lukaku, but Pickford was on hand to make a smart claim in the Sunderland net.
The home side were next to come close in the 10th minute when Jermain Defoe met a deflected Adnan Januzaj effort inside the Everton box, but the forward somehow fired over the crossbar from close range.
Three minutes later, Everton had an even better chance when Lukaku met a super cross from Bolasie, but Pickford made a stunning one-handed save to keep the two teams on terms at the Stadium of Light.
Lukaku continued to cause the Sunderland back four problems as he managed to turn away from Lamine Kone and strike towards goal in the 20th minute, but the busy Pickford once again made a smart save.
Sunderland had their moments on the counter-attack, but it was Everton that continued to look the more likely to make the breakthrough and only an important block from Kone prevented Kevin Mirallas from testing Pickford with a powerful strike in the 31st minute.
Sunderland almost edged ahead late in the first half when Lynden Gooch sent a curling effort towards the top corner, but Maarten Stekelenburg was on hand to make the stop.
Matt Law
