Sunderland sealed back-to-back wins with four goals and climbed to fourth in the Championship.
Sunderland took the lead through Ellis Simms’ 7th goal of the campaign, but Will Keane equalised to make the scores 1-1 at half time. Substitutes Ross Stewart and Patrick Roberts scored to make it 3-1 and Amad scored a wonder goal late on to seal a second successive victory.
Tony Mowbray made five changes to the side that came from behind to beat Blackburn on Boxing Day. Abdoullah Ba, Edouard Michut, Bailey Wright, Ellis Simms, and Trai Hume all came into the side.
Sunderland were looking to move closer to the playoffs and do the double over a Wigan side that sat 23rd going into the game. Ten minutes into the game and it was a feisty affair with a few strong challenges flying in with James McClean going into the book early on.
Sunderland were inches away from taking the lead, Amad was slipped through by Ba and was denied by Jamie Jones; the ball rebounded to Ba with the goal at his mercy but somehow Jones got to his feet to pull off a remarkable double save.
From the resulting corner, the ball was floated to the back post to Trai Hume, who’s shot/cross bounced off the pitch, looping over to Ellis Simms at the back post, who he couldn’t miss from a yard out.
The Black Cats were looking good on the ball and carried a threat on the break, despite several changes the Sunderland players looked confident. From a Wigan corner it bounced out to McClean who fired an effort from range that clipped the post.
Sunderland broke well and Simms was found brilliantly by Ba who slipped it through to Amad, the Ivorian cut inside and smacked an effort off the bar. Five minutes before the break, Wigan equalised through Will Keane. Antony Patterson parried Thelo Aasgaard’s effort straight to Keane who slotted it home.
Throughout the match Sunderland looked a threat on the break, Dan Neil won the ball and drove forward, but played the wrong pass to Simms whose heavy touch stopped the attack.
Sunderland were edging the play, but the final pass was poor. Amad looked tired and a few players’ touch was missing.
Patrick Roberts was on the field for a matter of minutes and won a penalty, he weaved his way through four players and was tripped in the box. Ross Stewart stepped up to take it and slotted it home via the post.
Sunderland were claiming for another penalty as Dajaku slipped past his man and it seemed to hit a Wigan hand, but the referee said no.
Robert’s had been inspired from the bench and Sunderland worked it brilliantly with some intricate short passing as Neil found Roberts whose deflected effort left Jones with no chance.
Sunderland put the icing on top of the cake with a spectacular strike from Amad, a lovely flick from Roberts found Amad who smashed it home from 25 yards out.
Full Time: Wigan Athletic 1-4 Sunderland AFC
ALS Man of the Match: Patrick Roberts
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Wright, Ballard, O'Nien, Ba (Dajaku 72’), Neil, Amad, Michut (Pritchard 62’ Matete 68’), Clarke (Roberts 62’), Simms (Stewart 62’)
Subs Not Used: Bass & Bennette
