Tony Mowbray’s men recorded a vital win over lowly Birmingham City on Saturday, as Sunderland keep pace with the play-off chasing pack. Blackburn Rovers’ goalless draw with Hull City ensured the Mackems closed the gap on sixth to just two points, and can keep dreaming of a sensational return to the top-flight after a turbulent six years in the football league.
This was an incredibly hard-fought victory against a side still nervously looking over their shoulder at the Championship trapdoor. Indeed, the visitors started well, forcing Sunderland keeper’ Anthony Patterson into a smart early save after Tahith Chong unleashed a fierce snap shot at goal. The ex-Manchester United starlet then cleverly set-up fellow midfielder George Hall, who rolled the ball home to put Birmingham City in front with fifteen minutes of the first-half remaining. However, the West Midlanders went into the interval level after Alex Pritchard’s corner found its way to an unmarked Patrick Roberts, who headed across for Northern Irish full-back Trai Hume to convert from close range.
Sunderland probed for a winner after the break, and almost found it when ex-Manchester City attacker Roberts scurried clear of City’s defence and bared down on an on-rushing John Ruddy, but the 26-year-old winger’s effort spiralled over the bar following an unfortunate bobble just before impact. Nevertheless, the Black Cats persevered, and eventually pulled ahead when Amad Diallo netted his twelfth goal since arriving from Old Trafford on a season-long loan, navigating past several challenges before crashing a powerful left-footed strike into the far corner from the edge of the penalty box. Any hope of pursuing a decisive third goal were extinguished when Dennis Cirkin received a second yellow card on 78 minutes for cynically blocking Chong’s progress, pre-empting a tense finish at the Stadium of Light. Nevertheless, John Eustace’s side failed to exploit their numerical advantage, and succumbed to just a second defeat in eight outings.
The Wearsiders appear to have firmly put their recent slump behind them, now unbeaten in five after a sequence of four losses within three weeks threatened to derail a positive start to their campaign. Next up for Sunderland is a visit from a re-energized Huddersfield Town – anything less than three points could prove a significant setback in their quest for a play-off place.
