DAVID MOYES' remarkable record against Sunderland was extended at Goodison Park this afternoon, thanks to a Jermaine Beckford double.
The Blues boss, who has never been on the losing side against the Black Cats, saw his side ease to a 2-0 victory.
Beckford tucked away two first half openings - one from Osman's pass the second from a superb run and pull-back by Mikel Arteta - and was unfortunate not to be celebrating a hat-trick before he came off 18 minutes from time as a precaution.
With Tim Cahill not recovered sufficiently from the knock he collected at Stamford Bridge last weekend, David Moyes selected the 4-4-2 formation favoured by so many supporters.
And it produced a goal after only seven minutes - although not before Kieran Richardson had wasted an equally good opportunity for the visitors.
Just five minutes had elapsed when Stephane Sessegnon's defence splitting pass gave Richardson a clear run at Howard's goal.
The Sunderland striker was slightly to the left of the target, but screwed his shot across the goal and wide of Howard's left hand post without the US star even having to dive.
The significance of the miss was underlined two minutes later.
Anton Ferdinand, defending the Gwladys Street goalmouth with bright sunshine in his eyes, headed a clearance only as far as Osman who collected and threaded a neat pass down the inside left channel for Beckford to race onto.
The striker clipped a shot past Mignolet and the covering Bramble could only help the ball on its way into the net.
Beckford, as he has done whenever he has played this season, had few problems finding himself on the end of opportunities and in the 16th minute he had an even better chance.
This time Fellaini headed the ball down inside the penalty area but while the unmarked Beckford swivelled sweetly his connection was scuffed and Mignolet saved easily.
Beckford was proving a persistent problem for Sunderland to deal with and another penetrating burst looked like taking him beyond the visitors' back-line until Mensah mopped up at the last moment.
But despite Everton's positive forward play they remained indebted to Tim Howard's fingertips for retaining their lead after 26 minutes.
Sessegnon was left with far too much time and space on the edge of the Blues penalty area to size up a shot and his fierce drive was heading for the roof of the net until Howard's fingertips touched it onto the underside of the crossbar and down to safety.
Seven minutes before the interval, however, the Blues doubled their lead with a moment the Goodison fans have waited a long time for from Mikel Arteta.
So often a creative catalyst for the Blues, his goal assisting input this season hs been minimal.
But he collected the ball on the left five yards outside the Sunderland penalty area and immediately drive deep into the visitors territory. He dribbled neatly past Mensah, took the ball to the byline then clipped it back left-footed for Beckford, who had peeled intelligently off his marker, to tuck away left-footed.
Goodison celebrated, but there was dismay for the home side barely two minutes later when Marouane Fellaini went down holding his ankle.
The influential Belgian had received lengthy treatment just a few minutes earlier but this time he was unable to continue and limped off to be replaced by Jack Rodwell.
Louis Saha was clearly keen to get in on the scoring act and had a couple of shots charged down, then minutes after the interval Beckford showed how keen he was to complete his hat-trick with a rising left-footed drive which cleared the bar by just a few feet.
Everton started the second half brightly and from a Neville throw Saha back-headed into the inrushing Osman's path but the little midfielder miscued an awkwardly bouncing effort wide.
In the 51st minute Beckford though he was going to enjoy a gilt edged opportunity for his hat-trick when Mensah shoved him to the ground as he raced clear onto Coleman's penetrating run and pass.
But while a penalty would almost certainly have ensued, Beckford had strayed half-a-yard offside and the free-kick was awarded to Sunderland.
Everton's play had been the more purposeful since the break and on the hour mark they were twice denied by blocks from Mignolet.
First Saha's shot threaded through a crowd of players and was blocked by the Sunderland keeper, but the ball broke to Coleman and his follow-up drive was also blocked behind for a corner.
With 18 minutes remaining, and an FA Cup fifth round tie looming on Tuesday, Beckford was left limping after a heavy challenge and came off to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Seamus Coleman came close to adding a third minutes later when his cross-shot from the right looked to be sneaking inside the near post until Mignolet made a diving stop.
With Everton comfortable they produced one of their slickest passing moves of the match to tee up substitute Bilyaletdinov with six minutes remaining but his volley flashed over.
In time added on Leon Osman had a wonderful chance to set the seal on the win, but after dribbling around goalkeeper Mignolet his left-footed shot was headedoff the line by Elmohamady.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini (Rodwell 41), Arteta, Osman; Beckford (Cahill 72), Saha (Bilyaletdinov 83). Unused substitutes: Mucha, Heitinga, Baxter, Hibbert.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet, Bardsley, Bramble, Ferdinand (Noble 67), Mensah; Elmohamady, Henderson, Muntari (Malbranque 77), Sessegnon; Richardson; Gyan. Unused substitutes: Gordon, Zenden, Riveros, Colback, Knott.
The Blues boss, who has never been on the losing side against the Black Cats, saw his side ease to a 2-0 victory.
Beckford tucked away two first half openings - one from Osman's pass the second from a superb run and pull-back by Mikel Arteta - and was unfortunate not to be celebrating a hat-trick before he came off 18 minutes from time as a precaution.
With Tim Cahill not recovered sufficiently from the knock he collected at Stamford Bridge last weekend, David Moyes selected the 4-4-2 formation favoured by so many supporters.
And it produced a goal after only seven minutes - although not before Kieran Richardson had wasted an equally good opportunity for the visitors.
Just five minutes had elapsed when Stephane Sessegnon's defence splitting pass gave Richardson a clear run at Howard's goal.
The Sunderland striker was slightly to the left of the target, but screwed his shot across the goal and wide of Howard's left hand post without the US star even having to dive.
The significance of the miss was underlined two minutes later.
Anton Ferdinand, defending the Gwladys Street goalmouth with bright sunshine in his eyes, headed a clearance only as far as Osman who collected and threaded a neat pass down the inside left channel for Beckford to race onto.
The striker clipped a shot past Mignolet and the covering Bramble could only help the ball on its way into the net.
Beckford, as he has done whenever he has played this season, had few problems finding himself on the end of opportunities and in the 16th minute he had an even better chance.
This time Fellaini headed the ball down inside the penalty area but while the unmarked Beckford swivelled sweetly his connection was scuffed and Mignolet saved easily.
Beckford was proving a persistent problem for Sunderland to deal with and another penetrating burst looked like taking him beyond the visitors' back-line until Mensah mopped up at the last moment.
But despite Everton's positive forward play they remained indebted to Tim Howard's fingertips for retaining their lead after 26 minutes.
Sessegnon was left with far too much time and space on the edge of the Blues penalty area to size up a shot and his fierce drive was heading for the roof of the net until Howard's fingertips touched it onto the underside of the crossbar and down to safety.
Seven minutes before the interval, however, the Blues doubled their lead with a moment the Goodison fans have waited a long time for from Mikel Arteta.
So often a creative catalyst for the Blues, his goal assisting input this season hs been minimal.
But he collected the ball on the left five yards outside the Sunderland penalty area and immediately drive deep into the visitors territory. He dribbled neatly past Mensah, took the ball to the byline then clipped it back left-footed for Beckford, who had peeled intelligently off his marker, to tuck away left-footed.
Goodison celebrated, but there was dismay for the home side barely two minutes later when Marouane Fellaini went down holding his ankle.
The influential Belgian had received lengthy treatment just a few minutes earlier but this time he was unable to continue and limped off to be replaced by Jack Rodwell.
Louis Saha was clearly keen to get in on the scoring act and had a couple of shots charged down, then minutes after the interval Beckford showed how keen he was to complete his hat-trick with a rising left-footed drive which cleared the bar by just a few feet.
Everton started the second half brightly and from a Neville throw Saha back-headed into the inrushing Osman's path but the little midfielder miscued an awkwardly bouncing effort wide.
In the 51st minute Beckford though he was going to enjoy a gilt edged opportunity for his hat-trick when Mensah shoved him to the ground as he raced clear onto Coleman's penetrating run and pass.
But while a penalty would almost certainly have ensued, Beckford had strayed half-a-yard offside and the free-kick was awarded to Sunderland.
Everton's play had been the more purposeful since the break and on the hour mark they were twice denied by blocks from Mignolet.
First Saha's shot threaded through a crowd of players and was blocked by the Sunderland keeper, but the ball broke to Coleman and his follow-up drive was also blocked behind for a corner.
With 18 minutes remaining, and an FA Cup fifth round tie looming on Tuesday, Beckford was left limping after a heavy challenge and came off to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Seamus Coleman came close to adding a third minutes later when his cross-shot from the right looked to be sneaking inside the near post until Mignolet made a diving stop.
With Everton comfortable they produced one of their slickest passing moves of the match to tee up substitute Bilyaletdinov with six minutes remaining but his volley flashed over.
In time added on Leon Osman had a wonderful chance to set the seal on the win, but after dribbling around goalkeeper Mignolet his left-footed shot was headedoff the line by Elmohamady.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Howard, Neville, Distin, Jagielka, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini (Rodwell 41), Arteta, Osman; Beckford (Cahill 72), Saha (Bilyaletdinov 83). Unused substitutes: Mucha, Heitinga, Baxter, Hibbert.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet, Bardsley, Bramble, Ferdinand (Noble 67), Mensah; Elmohamady, Henderson, Muntari (Malbranque 77), Sessegnon; Richardson; Gyan. Unused substitutes: Gordon, Zenden, Riveros, Colback, Knott.