CHARLIE WYKE'S 14th goal of the season secured a long-awaited 1-0 home win for Sunderland against Shrewsbury Town at the Stadium of Light.
Wyke, who hit a hat-trick a week earlier at Wimbledon, headed Aiden McGeady’s cross inside the far post brilliantly in the 18th minute to secure the points.
It was the first time Sunderland have won on home turf in League One since November 3 and lifted them back into promotion contention.
Sunderland controlled much of the game against a Shrewsbury side that was playing in the league for the first time this year because of a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp.
Harry Chapman, on loan from Blackburn, went close to levelling things up after a brilliant run towards the end of the first half that ended with his shot deflecting wide.
But Sunderland also had other chances during that period, including when Wyke missed the target after rounding goalkeeper Matjia Sarkic.
After the restart Shrewsbury looked more dangerous without testing goalkeeper Lee Burge enough. The nearest they came to scoring was when Shaun Whalley fired over from distance.
Sunderland move up to seventh and Shrewsbury unbeaten five match run in the league came to an end.
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