Sunderland get back to winning ways (From The Northern Echo)

Sunderland get back to winning ways

5:22pm Saturday 21st January 2012 in Sunderland AFC Match Reports

TWO stunning strikes from Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner got Sunderland back to winning ways against Swansea City at the Stadium of Light.

TWO stunning strikes from Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner got Sunderland back to winning ways against Swansea City at the Stadium of Light.

 

The win sees Martin O’Neill’s men leap-frog today’s opponents in the Premier League table and ensured the Black Cats sixth win in eight league games since the Northern Irishman was appointed in December.

 

Sessegnon struck in the 14^th minute to give the hosts a slender half-time lead and despite Swansea pushing for a leveller, Gardner’s 85^th minute thunder strike secured maximum points.

 

It was a positive start from the Black Cats, Seb Larsson saw a shot from the tightest of angles saved onto the post by Michel Vorm’s feet after Richardson had sent a deep cross from the left to the back post.

 

Sunderland lost Nicklas Bendtner as early as the 12^th minute after the striker left the field with a head injury with Connor Wickham replacing the Dane.

 

The loss of Bendtner shook the hosts and immediately Swansea attacked. Nathan Dyer broke down the right and cut the ball back to Scott Sinclair at the back post, but his effort went wide.

 

But O’Neill’s men fought back and within minutes of losing their main striker they took a 14^th minute lead.

 

Sessegnon played in McClean from the right and with the deftest of touches, the winger returned the ball to him leaving the striker to place his superb effort past Vorm into the top corner.

 

Swansea new boy Gilfi Sigurdsson had a succession of chances for the visitors, but Sunderland stood firm and took their lead into the second half.

 

With the visitors bound to threaten on the break, the Black Cats needed a second goal, but the Welsh side pressed with Sigurdsson and Dyer both missing chances.

 

Swansea continued to pile on the pressure and were enjoying a considerable amount of possession, but still the Sunderland back line stood firm.

 

Such was the visitors’ domination of the second half, O’Neill’s men had to wait until the 76^th minute for their first real chance of the half.

 

Wickham did well to hold the ball up before playing in McClean, his cross was met by Sessegnon, but the header went agonisingly wide.

 

Wickham then had a chance of his own – McClean’s deflected cross fell to the striker’s feet but his low drive from inside the area sailed wide of Vorm’s far post.

 

With the advantage still one goal, Swansea pressed for an equaliser and they almost got it through Sinclair, but winger blazed his effort over the bar from the edge of the area.

 

O’Neill had introduced Gardner to give his midfield a boost and after six minutes on the pitch, the former Birmingham City man produced a stunning strike to secure the points.

 

After bursting down the left Sessegnon switched the ball to Gardner, and after taking a touch, the midfielder hit a stunning volley past Vorm into the far corner.