Sunderland kept themselves right in the race for automatic promotion as they edged a thrilling 3-2 win at Middlesbrough.
A topsy-turvy game was settled late on thanks to a hugely unfortunate Ryan Giles own goal to earn the Black Cats a first league win at the Riverside in 20 years. It also secured a first league double over their local rivals since 1962.
The result keeps Sunderland just three points behind second-placed Sheffield United in the Championship table, and five points behind leaders Leeds with 16 games to go.
Boro, meanwhile, will be hugely frustrated, and they are left seventh in the table, outside of the play-off places on goal difference.
Sunderland start slowly but edge late win at the Riverside
It was the perfect opening for a lively Boro. Hayden Hackney was the provider as his exquisite scything pass found the run of Delano Burgzorg, who coolly approached goal before slotting past the helpless Anthony Patterson.
Boro had chances to double their lead. But not for the first time this season they were made to pay for wasted opportunities, as Sunderland found a fortuitous leveller before the break, with Neil’s strike from 20 yards taking a huge deflection off George Edmundson, evading Mark Travers and squeezing into the bottom corner.
Sunderland took the lead themselves shortly after half-time. Again it was a line-breaking pass, just like Boro’s opener, as Enzo Le Fee slotted one through for Wilson Isidor, who sat down Travers before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Boro hit back just before the hour, as Hackney drove in from just outside the box to find the corner. But it was Sunderland who struck last, as Le Fee’s fizzing cross ricocheted off Giles and into the back of the net.
How the night unfolded…
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Delano Burgzorg gave Middlesbrough the lead after finishing off a rapid counter-attack
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Dan Neil found the equaliser for Sunderland courtesy of a big deflection from George Edmundson
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Wilson Isidor calmly went round Mark Travers before passing the ball into the net to put Sunderland ahead
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Hayden Hackney smashed the ball into the back of the net to give Middlesbrough a quick equaliser against Sunderland.
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Ryan Giles could do nothing turn in Enzo Le Fee’s cross score an unlucky own goal for Sunderland
The managers
Middlesbrough’s Michael Carrick:
To follow…
Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris:
“[Le Fee] needs to play more and he will find a good rhythm. He’s still at 70 per cent I think. He’s a hard worker, a good team-mate and he’s talented. So it’s good for us.
“I’m happy for the players, the clubs and the fans. It was a tough game with a difficult start. Our first half was difficult and I don’t know exactly why.
If we play with more passion I’m sure we could win this game. I think the second half was really good and we showed that we can control the game, we can create chances.
“The second half was the way we want to play. Sometimes with a young team in a long league like this, it’s not easy to keep the consistency.
“I really liked the second half. The first one, we have to improve.”
