'Irreplaceable' Quinn leads Sunderland to heady heights

These are heady days for Sunderland and it is easy to see why. The club that leapt over four others to leave themselves sixth in the Premiership this morning have developed an obsession with the head of Niall Quinn since his successful return from injury over two seasons ago. It is, demonstrably, a winning obsession.

Sunderland have been promoted and finished seventh in the Premiership in that time and last night it worked again. It gave Sunderland a third successive league victory and a record since the beginning of September of one defeat in 15 matches. Quinn did not score but he was Sunderland's most telling contributor.

Everton, seeking a fourth win in a row, should have been ahead in the first half. But overall, by hitting the woodwork three times and scoring twice, through Alex Rae in the 45th minute and Kevin Phillips 20 minutes later, Sunderland deserved the points.

Afterwards Reid lauded Quinn: "Irreplaceable, as a footballer and as a man. The unfortunate thing for me is that he's 34." Asked to compare him to Tore Andre Flo, sold to Rangers for £12 million sterling, Reid replied: "He's better than Flo, so he's worth more than Flo."

Yet Reid also recognised the temptation for his players to use Quinn first and most frequently. "Niall's such an influential player, sometimes we went too direct tonight. I didn't think we played too well in the first half but in the second 45 minutes we were outstanding."

The Everton manager, Walter Smith, said: "We got what we deserved - nothing." That his team's two best chances came to the feet of his new Israeli signing Idan Tal, yet to score in seven appearances for the club, added to Smith's mood. Tal completely fluffed attempts in the fourth and 19th minutes.

Given that Kevin Campbell also put a lob over Thomas Sorensen's crossbar, it was unsurprising that Reid was off his bench berating his midfielders.

Most disappointing for Reid was that he had seen Quinn strike an Everton post with a superb piece of chest control and careful volley, and then Kevin Kilbane put a meaty header into Paul Gerrard's grasp.

Kilbane was an effective presence on Sunderland's right at that stage but as the half wore on Everton, looking tight and disciplined, were able to negate his danger.

Sunderland, already over-reliant on Quinn, became even more dependent. Again it worked. First Gerrard made an acrobatic tip-over save from Quinn but on the stroke of half-time Gerrard could do nothing about Rae's scorcher from 18 yards. It came, inevitably, from a Quinn flick. Kilbane headed it on, Phillips got a touch and Rae roared onto the loose ball and spanked it home.

Sunderland were steadied by the breakthrough. From the re-start they should have added a second when Quinn was put through by Phillips. But Quinn, leaning back, blasted an inviting half-volley over the bar. Before the hour Quinn was again involved, miscuing a shot across the six-yard box. Phillips, at the far post, was not expecting the ball and made no contact.

Sunderland's front two, though, were about to click. First Quinn showed some more deft chest work, trapping the ball and laying it into Phillips' path. Phillips rounded Gerrard but hit the post.

Two minutes later Julio Arca's hopeful drive from outside the area fell to Phillips inside it. He looked offside but was played onside by Gary Naysmith. Phillips stopped the speeding ball and toepoked it past Gerrard. His first goal in open play since the end of September.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, Gray, McCann, Thome, Craddock, Kilbane, Phillips (Oster 89), Quinn (Varga 81), Rae (Schwarz 86), Arca. Subs Not Used: Macho, Thirlwell. Goals: Rae 45, Phillips 65.

Everton: Gerrard, S. Watson, Weir, Campbell, Hughes, Pembridge, Ball, Naysmith, Gemmill (Nyarko 70), Cadamarteri (Moore 70), Tal (Gravesen 45). Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Unsworth. Booked: Hughes, Campbell, Nyarko. Attendance: 46,372.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).