Sunderland 2-1 Southampton

Sunderland 2-1 Southampton

Jordi Gomez 21 Pen
Jordi Gomez 55 Pen

Sadio Mane 22


Two subtle swipes of Jordi Gómez’s left boot were sufficient to offer Sunderland renewed hope of escaping relegation. Combined with a red card for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and another catalytic midfield performance from Lee Cattermole, Gómez’s two superbly taken penalties re-acquainted Wearsiders with something called optimism.

Dick Advocaat’s side remain third bottom but they are only one point behind Leicester and Hull and two in arrears of Newcastle and Aston Villa.

Danny Graham swiftly set the upbeat tone by winning an early penalty. When he and José Fonte challenged for a dropping ball, the Southampton defender raised his boot, catching Graham in the head and sending him crashing to the floor. Gómez stepped forward to take the penalty, evading Kelvin Davis’s reach with a refined kick, directed low into the bottom corner.

Advocaat’s celebrations proved short-lived. Home supporters had barely settled back into their seats before a ghastly defensive communications failure gifted Ronald Koeman’s side an equaliser a minute later.

It began with Southampton lobbing a speculative ball into the box. Costel Pantilimon came out to make a routine collection but, just in front of him Sebastian Coates and John O’Shea collided. Next the home goalkeeper fell over Coates, spilling the ball in the process. As the three Sunderland players slowly de-tangled their limbs from the undignified heap they had collapsed into, Sadio Mané pounced on an unexpected opportunity, gleefully turning the ball into an unguarded net.

The start of the second half brought a second penalty for Gómez, his left foot again proving far too incisive for Davis who dived the wrong way. A move which had been initiated by the impressive, and increasingly influential, Cattermole scything into a challenge and surging, dynamically, upfield, concluded with Graham holding the ball up brilliantly before playing in Jermain Defoe. The former England striker’s first touch was not exactly stellar but it did not prevent Ward-Prowse charging in and toppling Defoe over.

Apparently bereft of malice, the challenge probably only really merited a yellow card but Mike Jones produced a red, Southampton were down to 10 men and things finally looked to be going Advocaat’s way.

In the 81st minute Adam Johnson stepped off the bench to replace Defoe as he made his first appearance for Sunderland since being charged with three offences of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one of grooming.

After running on to a warm reception, Johnson made little impact but joined team-mates in congratulating Pantilimon for a brilliant stoppage time save from Graziano Pellè which may yet keep his side out of the Championship.

Guardian