Goals:

1-0: Gomez pen (21, powerfully found the bottom corner with a lovely finish after Fonte had fouled Graham)

1-1: Mane (22, had the simple task of finding an empty net after Pantilimon and Coates mix up)

2-1: Gomez pen (55, picked his spot again superbly after Defoe was brought down by Ward-Prowse)

Bookings: Jones (32, foul); Cattermole (59, foul); Wanyama (63, foul); Pelle (90, foul)

Sending-off: Ward-Prowse (55, professional foul)

Referee: Michael Jones (Chester) – got the big decisions right, even if he could have sent Fonte off. 7

Attendance: 39, 613

Entertainment: PPP

Shots on 6 2

Shots off 6 9

Corners 1 1

Offsides 0 1

Fouls 12 13

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3):

5 Pantilimon: Ridiculously charged off his line to try to gather when Coates had things under control but made an important late save;

6 Jones: Showed the determination throughout which Sunderland will need in the next few weeks

6 Coates: Only he will know if Pantilimon shouted before the mix up for Mane’s goal but recovered after a couple of shaky moments

4 O’Shea: Had started poorly and never looked comfortable after a few early blows

6 van Aanholt: Looked suspect at the back at times but was strong going forward;

7 Larsson: Caused problems with his deliveries and unfortunate not to score himself

7 Cattermole: Set the tone again with his commitment in the middle for the Black Cats

7 Gomez: Made no mistake when it mattered from the spot to give Sunderland a lifeline

6 Defoe: Tripped to earn a penalty in the second half when he looked like scoring

8 GRAHAM: He could have done with a goal just to give him confidence after a much better display

6 Wickham: Could have scored in the first half but at least put the effort in

Subs:

Vergini (for O’Shea 31): A few shaky moments and one of those almost proved costly late on. 4

Rodwell (for Larsson 81)

Johnson (for Defoe 81)

(not used): Mannone (gk), Bridcutt, Reveillere, Buckley.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Davis 7; Clyne 6, Fonte 4, Yoshida 4, Bertrand 5; ALDERWEIRELD 7, Wanyama 5 (Davis 66, 5); Ward-Prowse 4; Mane 6 (Elia 70, 5), Long 4 (Djuricic 46, 5); Pelle 4. Subs: Gazzaniga (gk) , Gardos, Reed, Targett.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DANNY Graham – was a crucial part of Sunderland’s success, if only he could get a goal himself.