AFTER signing from Ipswich in the autumn of 2002, Marcus Stewart was unable to score the goals that might have kept Sunderland in the Premiership.

But, after his third-minute strike took the Black Cats eight points clear of promotion rivals Wigan last night, the 32-year-old looks like being the man who has taken them back to football's promised land.

Stewart's 16th goal of the season settled a keenly-contested contest in which Sunderland's defence lived up to its billing as the best in the Championship by shackling a Wigan attack who are the division's leading scorers.

Last night's result does not ensure that Sunderland will visit Liverpool next season rather than Luton. But, with just five games to go, Mick McCarthy's side need a maximum of three more wins to guarantee automatic promotion.

With Reading, Leicester and Stoke still to visit the Stadium of Light, that should not be too tough a task, especially if they continue to show the same courage and commitment that carried them to such a crucial victory at Wigan.

While McCarthy might have claimed that last night's game was not a title decider, the 8,000 Sunderland fans who helped to swell the JJB Stadium's biggest crowd of the season undoubtedly viewed the meeting of the top two as a pre-cursor to the Premiership.

McCarthy's side were languishing in 16th place when Wigan visited Wearside at the end of August. But the Black Cats have since undergone a remarkable renaissance.

Stewart's goal extended the winning run to eight games, with the striker leading the line superbly alongside Chris Brown.

Brown was elevated to the starting line-up for the first time since January in preference to the unfortunate Stephen Elliott, while Jeff Whitley fared even worse as he was left out of the squad with Liam Lawrence on the right of midfield.

Lawrence is one of the summer unknowns who have served Sunderland so well this season and the former Mansfield midfielder played a pivotal role again last night as the visitors snatched a controversial third-minute lead.

He appeared to have taken the ball out of play on the right touchline but, while Wigan midfielder Alan Mahon inexcusably stopped, referee Andre Marriner allowed Lawrence to play on.

He did exactly that and, after a perfectly executed cross left Stewart with a clear run on goal, the veteran striker calmly clipped the ball past an exposed John Filan.

The strike capped a frantic opening spell in which Sunderland could easily have found themselves behind within a minute.

Roberts released Ellington through the middle and, while the Wigan striker went down under the challenge of George McCartney, the ball broke kindly for the supporting Gary Teale.

He looked a certain scorer after moving into the penalty area, but Thomas Myhre blocked his shot well after racing from his line to close down the angle.

Wigan's promotion push has been built on the symbiotic relationship that Roberts and Ellington have nurtured and, initially, Sunderland played into the pair's hands by keeping their backline square.

That meant that Gary Breen was forced to deal with the duo's raw pace and, before the Sunderland skipper gradually dropped deeper, the home side repeatedly threatened to break clear.

The nearest they came to doing so was a 21st-minute break in which Ellington wriggled free of Breen before shooting tamely at Myhre. But, as the first half wore on, the pair became increasingly frustrated at their lack of goalscoring opportunities.

With Carl Robinson tackling tigerishly at the heart of midfield, Sunderland denied Wigan's playmakers the space in which to create an opening for either of their strikers.

And, with Lawrence's crossing ability always giving them an outlet on the right, the visitors continued to create chances at the other end.

Brown headed the winger's cross over the top midway through the first half, before Lawrence went close himself following an impudent juggling act that completely bamboozled Leighton Baines.

His lofted chip over the full-back's head was perfectly judged but, unfortunately, his finish was rather less polished as he blazed wastefully over the crossbar as a gap opened up on the edge of the area.

With Wigan needing three points to stay in an automatic promotion spot, boss Paul Jewell signalled his intentions at half-time by throwing on Brett Ormerod, a striker who had already missed a penalty against Sunderland this season while on a previous loan spell at Leeds.

But, in re-organising his side into a 4-3-3 formation, the Latics boss merely surrendered control of the central area and give the Black Cats' midfielders more room in which to manoeuvre.

Dean Whitehead almost took advantage of the change on the hour mark but, after robbing the dawdling Graham Kavanagh, he dragged his shot well wide of the left-hand post.

Ormerod's introduction added to Wigan's aerial threat, but Breen continued to stand firm while his defensive partner, Stephen Caldwell, mopped up any loose balls that were dropping around him.

The pair were only beaten once after the break but, while Ian Breckin rose highest to meet Kavanagh's cross, the centre-half's close-range header was easily collected by Myhre.

Brown almost extended Sunderland's lead, prodding wide at the near post after Stewart found space on the left while, at the other end, Wigan's fans were screaming for a penalty after Roberts tumbled in the box under pressure from both Breen and Stephen Wright.

But that proved to be Sunderland's final scare. Lawrence wasted a glorious late opportunity to extend their lead, but Wigan were unable to profit from his profligacy as Sunderland moved a giant step nearer the top-flight.

Wigan Athletic 0 - 1 Sunderland

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