Kone hits hat trick as Everton demolish hapless Sunderland

Arouna Kone's hat trick saw Everton rack up their
biggest Premier League win in eight years with as they
demolished Sunderland 6-2 at Goodison Park.
Kone, whose partnership with fellow striker Romelu
Lukaku continues to flourish, will claim the headlines --
but the influence of winger Gerard Deulofeu was key
component in only Everton's second home league win of
the season.
The win was the Toffees' best since beating the Black
Cats 7-1 in November 2007.
Deulofeu opened the scoring and provided two assists
before being withdrawn to a standing ovation just past
the hour, while Kone remained to take the plaudits at the
final whistle after bringing his tally to five goals in six
league starts.
Everton were coasting at 2-0 thanks to Deulofeu and
Kone but Sunderland, on the back of their first win of the
campaign against arch-rivals Newcastle a week ago,
clawed their way back with goals from Jermain Defoe
and Steven Fletcher.
But they were ruthlessly taken apart in 16 second half
minutes as a Sebastian Coates own goal was followed
by strikes from Lukaku and two more from Kone.
In addition to their previous one home win Everton had
managed just six goals in their previous five Premier
League matches at Goodison but took full advantage of
obliging and ill-disciplined opponents who had begun
brightest when Patrick Van Aanholt smashed a shot
against the post in the fourth minute.
Defoe was denied by the legs of Tim Howard, Adam
Johnson hit the post and Fletcher's rebound was blocked
by Seamus Coleman -- and that provided the wake-up
call the hosts needed.
Kone's delightful flicked pass through Sunderland's
newly-installed three centre-back formation allowed
Deulofeu to fire through the legs of backtracking
defender Billy Jones and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon
for his first league goal since returning to the club.
Kone, who turns 32 in less than a fortnight and is out of
contract at the end of the season, scored his first with a
fierce left-footed shot which took Pantilimon by surprise.
Defoe's volley in first half added time was soon followed
by Fletcher's close-range header to level things up
before Deulofeu came to the fore again as his cross was
turned in by former Liverpool defender Coates, under
pressure from Lukaku.
Belgium striker Lukaku got his goal six minutes later
thanks to another perfect pass from the Catalan winger.
Two more goals completed Kone's hat-trick as
Sunderland completely fell apart, underlining the extent
of the task Allardyce faces to save them this season.