Fortuitous goals from Danny Graham and Jermain Defoe were enough to move Sunderland out of the relegation zone after defeating Everton in the Premier League's early kickoff.

Leon Osman went close to opening the scoring for the home side, but the midfielder curled his effort just wide of the post.

The Toffees dominated possession early on, and Romelu Lukaku was denied by the onrushing Costel Pantilimon before Ross Barkley's tame effort was blocked.

The visitors looked to stamp their authority on the match, and Jermain Defoe saw his strike deflect wide after hitting the back of teammate Connor Wickham.

Pantilimon thwarted Everton again just before half time, denying both Lukaku and Osman to ensure that the Black Cats headed into the break all square.

After the break, Lukaku was unmarked from an Everton corner but was unable to find the target with his header.

Just two minutes later, Sunderland took the lead when Jordi Gomez's strike took a huge deflection off Graham's ankle after the striker appeared to be trying to get out of the way.

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Patrick van Aanholt almost doubled the visitors' advantage but his effort found the side-netting after he burst into the box.

James McCarthy had Pantilimon beaten with his strike from 25 yards out, but the ball cannoned off the post as Sunderland battled to hang on to their lead.

A double deflection then stretched Sunderland's advantage with five minutes left, after Adam Johnson's strike hit Seamus Coleman then Defoe before finding the net.

The win catapults Sunderland up into 14th place, leaving Hull City in 18th.