Pressure on Hull and Newcastle as Sunderland stun Everton to climb out of drop zone

Sunderland players apllaud the crowd after their 2-0 victory at Everton lifted the club out of the relegation zone. Paul Thomas / Getty

Scrappy second-half efforts from strikers Danny Graham and Jermain Defoe earned Sunderland a 2-0 victory at Everton on Saturday that fired them out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Sunderland went ahead in the 53rd minute when Jordi Gomez’s shot struck Graham on the leg and looped over Tim Howard and Defoe claimed a second five minutes from time by steering Adam Johnson’s deflected shot into the net with his thigh.

It was Sunderland’s first away win since a 1-0 success at Newcastle United on December 21 and catapulted Dick Advocaat’s side up to 14th place, two points clear of the bottom three with three matches to play.

Roberto Martinez’s Everton, who struck the post through James McCarthy at 1-0 down, remain 11th.

Hull City fell into the drop zone ahead of their home game with bottom club Burnley later on Saturday, when victory for the hosts will condemn their opponents to relegation.

Second-bottom Queens Park Rangers, who visit Manchester City on Sunday, can also be relegated if results go against them.

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