A fantastic performance from Sunderland on Wednesday evening saw the lads beat Norwich City 3-0 at the SOL and move up to eight in the Premiership. Superb first half goals from Fraizer Campbell and Stephane Sessegnon along with a second half own goal sealed a well deserved victory.

So transfer deadline day passed without us signing a striker, although Martin O’Neill did bolster the defence with the loan signings of Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos. It speaks volumes to me that O’Neill’s first signing for SAFC was a left back given that Steve Bruce failed to sign one during his tenure as manager. Although the jury’s still out on Bridge considering he hasn’t played a Premiership game since we won at West Ham 3-0 in the final game of last season.

Before the game Norwich manager Paul Lambert, who captained Celtic whilst O’Neill managed in Glasgow, revealed he still calls the current Sunderland manager gaffer for advice. Lambert, who has done a fine job with the Canaries this season, is likened to O’Neill by some pundits and his side headed to Wearside on the back of a good win away to West Brom in the FA Cup.

With an injury list growing by the game Martin O'Neill made three changes to the side from Sunday and in fact it was actually the side that ended the game against Boro with Campbell, Turner and Colback replacing Wickham, Brown and Vaughan with Wayne Bridge having to settle for a place on the bench.

Sunderland started the opening ten minutes well with Campbell dragging a shot wide before being denied a great goal after his header was saved from McClean's cross. Seb Larsson forced the keeper into action with a curling free kick from the left wing, before moments later dragging a shot wide after neat work from Gardner. We took the lead after twenty minutes with a spectacular goal from Frazier Campbell.

Campbell who was lively all game and doing more of his fare share of tracking back and winning possession, volleyed McClean’s pass into the top corner from around 25 yards, a goal similar to Super Kev's versus Chelsea several years ago. Norwich had their only chance of the first half when the lads failed to clear a long ball but the loose ball was fired over.

We doubled the lead with another great goal started and finished by Stephane Sessegnon. Sess picked the ball up with a sublime first touch in the centre circle before leaving his man for dead with a quick nutmeg before finding Campbell on the flank. Campbell turned provider with a great first time cross into the area to find Sess who had continued his run into the box to nod home. Superb.

We had to settle for a two goal advantage at half time though Campbell struck the post after another cross from although the striker was flagged offside.

After the break we continued in dominant fashion with Larsson clipping a cross onto the roof of the net before another clever passage of play created a shooting opportunity for Gardner whose effort was turned round the post. Ten minutes into the second half we sealed the victory with a third goal which was credited to Phil Bardsley who fired a low cross across goal after a surging run into the box, but in fact it was a Norwich defender who got the final touch.

Fraizer Campbell almost got Sunderland’s fourth and his second on another attack when Seb Larsson delivered a low cross which just evaded the outstretched strikers foot. With half an hour to go Norwich went close when Morison rose highest to a cross but his glancing header went wide.

With the game won the final twenty minutes were saw out by Sunderland comfortably and Martin O’Neill made three changes with Campbell and Sessegnon withdrawn with Saturday in mind for Ji and Meyler while for the final ten minutes Wayne Bridge made his debut replacing Kieran Richardson at left back.

Final Score: Sunderland 3 Norwich City 0

ALS Man of the Match: Fraizer Campbell – a goal, an assist and overall an incredible performance – Welcome back

Aidan Crowe

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