Sunderland came from behind to beat Wigan Athletic 2 – 1 at a wet and windy SOL on Saturday afternoon.
Former Sunderland striker Charlie Wyke had given the visitors the lead on the stroke of half time but second half goals from Elliot Embleton and Dennis Cirkin sealed a vital three points for the lads.
Tony Mowbray made one change from last weekend's defeat with Dennis Cirkin replacing the suspended Corry Evans. For the visitors former Sunderland players Max Power, James McClean, Nathan Broadhead and Charlie Wyke all started whilst Ashley Fletcher was named on the bench.
Sunderland got the game underway kicking towards the Roker End and had the first effort on goal after Patrick Roberts skinned McClean and cut in from the right but he curled his shot wide. Embleton and Pritchard then combined with a nice one two on the edge of the box but Embleton’s shot was weak and easily held by the keeper.
Wigan settled into the game and despite being the bigger more physical side seemed to use every opportunity to waste time going down softly and feigning injuries. After 20 minutes the lads won a free kick on the right wing after McClean hacked down Roberts and was lucky not to be booked. Alex Pritchard delivered a superb cross through the box but Sunderland had nobody getting on the end of it.
Five minutes later Elliot Embleton was booked for a foul on Charlie Wyke on the half way line after Wyke rolled around in agony whilst minutes earlier Roberts jumped straight up after McClean’s challenge. Wigan eventually had a player booked after a strong challenge from Till on Roberts however it didn’t look like the ref was going to caution him until massive protests from Tony Mowbray.
On the half hour the lads had the ball in the back of the net after Clarke stabbed the ball past the keeper after being slipped in by Pritchard. However the linesman had his flag up for offside and it was ruled out.
Five minutes before half time Roberts produced a sublime piece of play to evade a few challenges at pace cutting in from the right. The ball them fell for Pritchard who played in Clarke but his shot went wide of the post. A minute later Roberts did well again to surge into the box at pace but fired across goal and wide with his right foot.
Predictably on the stroke of half time Wigan took the lead with there first effort on goal through Charlie Wyke. A cross from the left wasn’t dealt with and it fell to Wyke at the back post who steered a left footed shot past Patterson into the corner.
The gaffer made a change at the break with Amad Diallo replacing Lynden Gooch.
Sunderland drew level eight minutes into the second half when Elliott Embleton rounded off a wonderful passage of play. Sunderland moved the ball about well before Cirkin found space in the left hand side of the box and crossed for Embleton to poke the ball past the keeper.
With half an hour to go Wigan won a free kick on the wing after Alese was adjudged to have fouled Keane. Max Power teed the ball up for McClean who curled a powerful shot goal wards but Patterson did well on the stretch to deny him. A few minutes later a ball across the box from Pritchard was dangerous but Sunderland had no one attacking it.
Dan Neil almost got onto the score sheet after he raced onto a through ball and almost rounded the keeper but Amos recovered to gather the ball. The lads did take the lead soon after with Dennis Cirkin notching his first goal for the club. Luke O’Nien took a quick free kick on the right wing playing the ball to Pritchard. He whipped over a fantastic cross to the back post which Cirkin nodded past the keeper.
The visitors made a couple of changes as they looked to get back into the game one of which was Fletcher replacing Broadhead. They did have a chance a big chance five minutes from time when Will Keane rose highest to McClean’s corner but he headed over.
There was five minutes added time as Wigan piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Tony Mowbray made a change in the first of these with Bailey Wright replacing Elliot Embleton. The lads did well to see out the injury time and seal a vital and deserved win.
Final Score – Sunderland 2 Wigan Athletic 1
ALS Man of the Match - Dennis Cirkin
