Welbeck banishes doubts but Arteta denies Sunderland a victory

THERE WAS a time when Sunderland fans wondered why Steve Bruce had made such a fuss about borrowing Danny Welbeck from Manchester United. Last night such doubts were banished as they implored their manager to “sign him up”, reports Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light. The fast maturing young striker emphasised his potential with not just two goals but a pacy performance. Everton looked relieved to secure a point courtesy of Mikel Arteta’s late, heavily deflected, equaliser.

David Moyes reckons it is high time Fabio Capello offered Leighton Baines another England run out and Everton’s left back did not take long to emphasise his overlapping credentials. After exchanging neat, short, triangular passes with Steven Pienaar down the left flank, Baines whipped in a cross which Tim Cahill headed beyond Craig Gordon.

Steve Bruce has also more than done his bit to hype Jordan Henderson but a young midfielder out of his depth during a full England debut against France last Wednesday began as if on a mission to justify his manager’s faith. His dynamic hyper-activity rarely allowed Arteta time to settle on the ball in midfield.

Welbeck has had even more generous praise lavished on him by Alex Ferguson. Such glowing references seemed frankly a little puzzling when the Manchester United loanee first arrived here in August but, over the past few weeks Welbeck has added poise – and goals – to his wonderful pace and energy.

The teenager claimed the equaliser, his instinctive first-time close range finish defying Tim Howard following a connection with Bolo Zenden’s clever low cross. Baines delighted in reminding everyone he takes a mean dead ball and the fallout from one of his corners saw Henderson and then Lee Cattermole clearing the ball off the line.

Sunderland began the second period stronger, with Howard saving from Welbeck before Cattermole’s run and short pass to Zenden saw the winger thwarted by John Heitinga’s block. At the other end Michael Turner collided with a post while clearing a volley from Cahill off the line.

With an impasse beckoning and the Stadium of Light chanting Steed Malbranque’s name Bruce caved into popular demand, withdrawing Zenden and unleashing “the Mighty Steed”. It was Kieran Richardson though who conjured Welbeck’s second, the midfielder seeing a corner partially cleared before crossing the ball for the striker to head to the net.

Defending though is not Welbeck’s forte and he was deceived by Arteta’s dummy after the Spaniard met a fine Baines cross before sweeping a shot which deflected off Phil Bardsley beyond Gordon.

GuardianService

SUNDERLAND:Gordon, Onuoha, Turner, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Richardson, Henderson (Elmohamady 85), Cattermole, Zenden (Malbranque 69), Bent, Welbeck. Subs not used: Mignolet, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros, Adams.

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman (Rodwell 65), Arteta, Heitinga (Beckford 83), Pienaar, Saha (Yakubu 82), Cahill. Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye. Booked: Heitinga, Rodwell.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).