Campbell struck with 28 minutes gone to undo the Wearsiders, who had earlier seen Kevin Phillips denied by keeper Richard Wright and the crossbar, and Gavin McCann shoot wide from close range, in a bright start which did not last.

Sunderland’s enterprising start had by now given way to a frantic but largely ineffectual approach as they pumped the ball long rather than persisting with the passing game which had shown such early promise.

And as the home side became increasingly frustrated, the visitors stepped up a gear, Li Tie testing Thomas Sorensen from 30 yards with a dipping right-foot shot on 34 minutes and then blasting another over two minutes later.

The Toffees continued in similar vein through Mark Pembridge seven minutes before the break when, after Radzinski had collected Li Tie’s pass, he crossed for the Welshman to place a shot wide of Sorensen’s left hand but also wide of the post.

The Chinese international was having a major impact and he went close again on 42 minutes when he found himself in space on the edge of the box, but as the cover arrived, he hit his shot straight at the keeper.

McCann could have levelled seconds later when he took aim from 20 yards, but again, he could not hit the target.