Sunderland 0 Everton 1A SLICE OF luck for Andrew Johnson was enough to hand Everton the points in yesterday's Premier League clash at Sunderland and keep alive their hopes of edging Liverpool out of the Champions League places.

Johnson scored the only goal of the game when Mikel Arteta's left-wing cross ricocheted off his arm in the 55th minute, leaving their committed but limited opponents still nursing relegation worries.

The striker had earlier missed a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring, heading over from point-blank range when Tim Cahill's effort was cleared off the line by Anthony Stokes.

Phil Jagielka forced Craig Gordon into the first save of the match in the 16th minute but his header looped softly to the Scot.

There were appeals from the crowd for a home penalty when Stokes' cross from the right was blocked by a jumping Joleon Lescott, but there were no obvious signs of handball.

Kenwyne Jones then pressured Tim Howard under a high ball but his presence was little more than nuisance value as clear opportunities remained thin on the ground. Phil Bardsley ensured that remained the case after 26 minutes, sliding in full-blooded on the edge of his area to deny Stephen Pienaar time to shoot.

That enthusiasm bubbled over soon after, Bardsley fouling Arteta on the left. More worryingly, though, was what appeared to be a kick aimed at the floored Spaniard by the incoming Stokes.

With 12 minutes to go before the half-time whistle, Dean Whitehead had the chance to test Howard from range as the ball fell invitingly for him. But his shot was scuffed into a crowded penalty box and he was later booked for an equally imprecise challenge on Pienaar.

Cahill then had the chance to send the visitors in ahead but failed to beat Stokes on the line. Johnson won the loose ball but will have been disappointed not to find the net with a header that sailed over the crossbar.

Stokes had no further chance to impress, manager Roy Keane sending on Michael Chopra for the second period. They restarted with a better tempo and after 47 minutes, Daryl Murphy's whipped cross narrowly failed to find the leaping Jones at the far post.

Kieran Richardson had his first real impact, surging through the middle of the park and releasing Murphy but showed too much of the ball to full-back Tony Hibbert and the danger evaporated.

It looked like it would take a piece of luck to make something happen and it came when Arteta sent a searching cross into the Sunderland penalty area, with Johnson lurking. At least three bodies surged towards the centre but it looked as though the final touch came from the former Crystal Palace striker's shoulder and the ball sailed over Gordon and into the net.

There was nearly late drama when Andy Reid produced a sterling free-kick in stoppage-time but Howard again excelled, tipping over to end the resistance.

"Yes, the players are down and disappointed. The day they are not after a defeat will be a very sad day for the club. But we'll lick our wounds and get ready for another tough game (against Chelsea on Saturday)," said Keane.

"You have to keep believing, sometimes it's hard when you lose, but the spirit among the players is the least of my worries."