NORTH-EAST Nemesis James Beattie dealt a blow to Sunderland's Premiership survival hopes with his 16th top-flight goal this season.

The England hopeful, who looks certain of a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for the friendly with Australia at West Ham on February 12, has now netted as many times as Sunderland in the Premiership this season.

It's a stark statistic which sums up the plight of Howard Wilkinson's side.

The third-bottom Wearsiders were grateful for small mercies last night as news filtered through that rivals-in-distress Bolton, two points above them, had lost at home to Everton.

But Sunderland fans understandably fear the worst and they turned their wrath on club chairman Bob Murray with chants of "We want Murray out'' and "sack the board'' as their side slipped to their seventh home League defeat.

Much like their disaffected French striker David Bellion, Sunderland's defence went AWOL when Beattie struck five minutes into the second half.

Michael Svensson pumped a ball forward from half-way, and Beattie was completely free to break clear and go round the stranded Thomas Sorensen before rolling the ball in left-footed.

It was Beattie's fourth goal in the region this season - he scored in his side's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle and bagged a brace in the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough.

Sunderland have now won only two League games out of 16 under Wilkinson, who replaced the sacked Peter Reid in October, and are without a victory in their last seven Premiership outings.

Wilkinson had kept faith with the system that earned a 3-3 draw at Blackburn in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie, but there was one change in personnel as George McCartney was recalled in place of Ben Clark.

It necessitated a switch to right-back for the naturally left-sided Michael Gray. The Sunderland skipper, however, looked accomplished enough in his unfamiliar role in the 16th minute when he slid in to rob Chris Marsden after the Saints midfielder had done the same to Gavin McCann.

Both sides showed plenty of endeavour in the early stages, but the end product was seriously lacking.

Matt Oakley trundled a tame long-range shot which was easily dealt with by Sorensen.

But Rory Delap posed more of a danger when he met Paul Telfer's right-wing centre with a bullet header that dipped just over.

A succession of marginal-looking offside decisions frustrated the home fans, as did the poor quality of Sunderland's final ball.

The visitors were forced to make a switch in the 36th minute. Delap was replaced by Jo Tessem, scorer of the last-gasp goal that beat Sunderland at St. Mary's in December.

Two minutes later came the closest call of the half, Sorensen throwing himself to his left to touch Fabrice Fernandes' curling free-kick on to the post.

It was the first of three important saves from Sorensen as the half-time interval approached.

The giant Dane had to claim a close-range header from defender Michael Svensson, and then sprawl to his right to deny schemer Anders Svensson after the home defence had backed off alarmingly.

In between, Sunderland striker Michael Proctor was booked for a crunching late tackle on Oakley which was needlessly committed well inside the visitors' half.

The second period was less than a minute old when Sunderland suffered another scare as Beattie turned in the box on the end of Michael Svensson's knockdown, but fired over with the goal at his mercy.

Four minutes later, however, Beattie fared better as the Sunderland defence went to sleep.

Kevin Phillips momentarily lifted the home crowd's spirits when he chased Kevin Kilbane's pass but forced the ball wide as he met with the combined challenge of keeper Antti Niemi and Michael Svensson.

Niemi then made a double save from Phillips, the first with his feet, after the striker had been put through on goal - the second more routine from a follow-up attempt.

Wilkinson had thrown on Paul Thirlwell for Kilbane and Clark for Phil Babb, the substitution of the latter being greeted with cheers from around the ground.

Kevin Kyle was then sent on for Marcus Stewart, but it was Phillips who still offered Sunderland's best hope of a reply.

Niemi had to race from his line to head clear as Phillips closed in, and when the ball broke to Julio Arca, his effort from distance was casually knocked off the line by Francis Benali. But there was precious little less to excite the crowd of 34,102, the lowest for a League game here this season

Result: Sunderland 0 1 Southampton

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