Sunderland did the business yet again this afternoon beating fellow strugglers Wigan two nil at the Stadium of Light. A first half header from Dickson Etuhu and second half wonder strike from Daryl Murphy secured the victory which leaves us sitting pretty in fourteenth place.

With the midfield injury crisis there was no real surprises in the first eleven with Dickson returning after his spell at the African Nations Cup. The back five remained unchanged from the Liverpool defeat whilst in midfield O’Donovan and Murphy started on the wings with Etuhu and Whitehead in the middle. Michael Chopra was given a chance to show what he can do up front alongside Kenwyne Jones.

We started OK but the game was scrappy. Chopra had the first effort on goal from a free kick but it was poor and straight into the wall. The first real chance fell to us when Murphy crossed for O’Donovan but his header clipped the top of the bar.

Wigan hit back and forced a corner which Sunderland cleared but only as far to Paul Scharner who smashed a volley from about 25 yards just wide. With about twenty minutes gone Keano was forced into his first change of the game when Roy O’Donovan picked up a knock. He was replaced by Prica with Michael Chopra dropping back onto the right wing.

The first half was a pretty dull affair with both sides lacking the quality and creativity to create any chances. Would anyone fancy travelling to Hong Kong to watch this?

However, the game sprung into life as half time approached. Phil Bardsley went close with a curling shot from outside the box. He showed good skill to go past Kevin Kilbane before his shot beat Kirkland and the post.

The lads took the lead when Phil Bardsley won a free kick on the right hand side. Whitehead’s cross was headed in by the returning Dickson Etuhu. It was a bullet header but Wigan were not happy with Steve Bruce contesting the award of the free kick.

After the break Wigan started on fire and put us under loads of pressure. Within thirty seconds King had two attempts to score but was first denied by Gordon and then Nos cleared off the line. The clearance didn’t go far however as it was picked up by Kilbane who drilled a low shot from twenty yards off the foot of the post.

Wigan continued to pressure but we forced an opening of our own catching them on the break. Whitehead crossed for Murphy who from inside the box, with no one around him, managed to screw his volley miles wide.

Wigan had another chance to equaliser when Heskey climbed highest from a corner but they were again denied by the woodwork. This time Heskey's header clipped the crossbar.

The lads were under the cosh with Wigan forcing loads of corners most of which were defended well. Scharner went closest when he glanced Koumas cross inches wide.

With about twenty minutes to go Andy Reid came on for Chopra and had an instant impact. He battled well on the left wing to win possession and spray a great ball to the right wing for Murphy. What happened next was breathtaking.

Murphy charged forward, cut inside onto his left foot and smashed the ball into the top corner from about twenty yards out. It was an amazing unstoppable strike and reminiscent of Carlos’ cracker against Burnley last season.

The second really killed of Wigan but they continued to press with three up front. We however should have made it three nil when Chris Kirkland’s poor clearance landed at the feet of Prica on the halfway line. He only had one defender to beat to go one on one but he ended up running the ball out for a goal kick.

Another massive three points and it looks like most other results have gone our way. Its pleasing that were doing well against the teams around us and if we could pick up a few points away from home we will be laughing.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 Wigan 0

ALS Man of the Match: Daryl Murphy

Aidan Crowe

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