Sunderland 0 Everton 3

Lukaku headed in his first on the hour and followed it up with a second eight minutes later before drilling in a low third shortly after to seal the points at the Stadium of Light.

Everton's Romelu Lukaku scores the opener. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

And it could quite easily have got even worse for Sunderland after a second half collapse which saw many supporters leave long before the final whistle following another result to raise concerns on Wearside. Many of those that did hang around offered up some boos to highlight the mood.

Moyes, who lost to Everton twice during his time at Manchester United after leaving Goodison Park in 2013, could only look on with frustration as Sunderland suffered a second half collapse against his former club.

For the sixth consecutive year Sunderland have started a Premier League season winless in four matches and they will head to Tottenham on Sunday still searching for a first victory in August or September since 2012 – leaving them sitting in a familiar relegation spot.

This time Sunderland had looked solid enough in the first half, but alarming gaps appeared all over the backline as summer signing Papy Djilibodji had moments of madness to leave Lukaku free to end his 11 game drought in the Premier League.

It was a far cry from May when Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland won by the same scoreline to preserve top-flight status for another year before his summer exit to take over England and pave the way for Moyes’ arrival.

Sunderland manager David Moyes during the match. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire. 

There had been an emotional start to the game, with little Bradley Lowery, the five-year-old from Blackhall who is battling cancer, Sunderland’s mascot for the night. Fans of both teams gave him a standing ovation in the fifth minute when they also sang his name in an incredibly touching moment.

And Bradley was looking on from one of the hospitality boxes with his family when Sunderland almost found an early opener through Jermain Defoe, the captain who had looked after him on the pitch.

Jack Rodwell’s blocked shot looped conveniently into the striker’s path on the penalty spot, but his first time effort flew over the bar with goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg beaten and off his line.

It was a big moment because it would have given Sunderland, with fit again Jan Kirchhoff back in the holding midfield role alongside former Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, the ideal platform to build from.

Lukaku is closely marked by Sunderland's Jack Rodwell. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Sunderland saw plenty of the ball during the first half, although they could quite easily have fallen behind moments later had it not been for the brilliance of young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The England Under-21s international has the extra pressure of keeping his shirt following the arrival of Mika – who was on the bench along with deadline day recruits Jason Denayer and Didier Ndong for the first time since arriving from Boavista – and he showed his quality.

Pickford made a one-handed flying save to turn Lukaku’s close-range and powerful header over the crossbar following Yannick Bolasie’s inch perfect cross for the Belgian. Five minutes before half-time Stekelenburg had to be alert to back pedal and tip over Lynden Gooch’s delivery to the back post which threatened to drop over him and into the net.

There needed to be more adventure and creativity in the final third and that was recognised by Ronald Koeman, the Everton boss. He introduced Gerard Deulofeu for the second half and he came within inches of turning in an effort from Leighton Baines which was saved by Pickford.

Most of the time Sunderland’s backline, which had seen Lamine Kone and Djilobodji initially show signs of developing a fine understanding, stood firm until the opener but Deulofeu brought greater spice to Everton’s play and that caused the home side allsorts of problems.

Yet Kone, who looked for so much of August as though he would join the Toffees for £21m, could have scored when he headed a corner into the hands of Stekelenburg from a corner. Moyes had to do something, so brought on Wahbi Khazri for Gooch.

Adnan Januzaj battles for the ball with Everton's Idrissa Gana Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

The change didn’t have the desired effect, as Everton soon took the lead. Deulofeu it was who turned defence into attack with a bursting run down the right. Sunderland’s defence did its job initially in thwarting his pass, but Idrissa Gueye ended up with the ball at his feet.

Gueye moved forward and spotted Lukaku unmarked in the area and he directed a downward header beyond Pickford’s outstretched right hand to leave Sunderland chasing another game.

It was to get worse, a lot worse. Lukaku had already hit the bar before he added his second of the night. Once again he was left free in the area, this time by Djilobodji, and he had the simple task of heading Bolasie’s cross into Pickford’s left corner.

Then he was allowed to complete his hat-trick three minutes later. Djilobodji, the £8m signing from Chelsea, went walkabout and was nowhere to be seen when Kevin Mirallas slotted a through pass for the striker to run onto. Lukaku, full of confidence, drilled a finish low and beyond the frustrated Pickford.

Lukaku scores his side's third. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA 

Moyes handed debuts to Ndong and Denayer moments later, but the damage was already done and all they could hope for was keeping the score down to three. That was what they helped to do too, although they were helped by Lukaku’s withdrawal to a standing ovation from the visiting fans.

Arouna Kone did go close to adding a fourth in stoppage-time. Not that Pickford’s save mattered, a disjointed Sunderland had already lost and they should be thankful it wasn’t an even greater beating.