Sunderland revitalised their hopes of computerized promotion from the Championship after Eliezer Mayenda’s double helped them beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough.
Successive defeats to Leeds and Hull had left the Black Cats eight factors behind second-placed Sheffield United with 12 video games left to play, however Mayenda – who additionally scored twice within the return fixture in August – helped scale back that to 5 forward of the rest of the weekend’s motion.
A fourth defeat in 5 retains Wednesday – who misplaced each Max Lowe and Callum Paterson to damage – down in thirteenth, with a six-point hole to the play-off locations.
Though there was no lack of depth, the sport took a short while to heat up. And, when it did, Sheffield Wednesday ought to, arguably, have been in entrance when one in every of many Pol Valentin crosses from the fitting discovered Josh Windass – with out a purpose in 10 video games – who blazed nicely over first time.
Sunderland did take the lead shortly after the half-hour mark – and in controversial circumstances.
Leo Hjelde’s lengthy ball out from defence flew all through to Mayenda, who managed the ball after Lowe’s poorly-timed leap and lifted the ball previous James Beadle. However the first contact was made together with his left arm and, by the legal guidelines of the sport, it shouldn’t have stood.
“It strikes him on the arm and you can’t then benefit,” stated Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports activities Soccer. “If you pass the ball onto a team-mate, they can put the ball into the back of the net, but Mayenda was never going to do that. He takes the opportunity, but really the goal shouldn’t stand.”
There have been few appeals on the pitch on the time, however Danny Rohl’s facet would have seen replays at half-time they usually got down to put the file straight instantly after the break, which took lower than 120 seconds.
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Callum Paterson heads Sheffield Wednesday degree towards Sunderland
Svante Ingelsson pipped Chris Mepham to the ball on the fitting, superior down the left and hung up essentially the most inviting ball for Paterson, who rose to information the ball previous Anthony Patterson.
After a lull in proceedings, Mayenda restored the guests’ lead with 19 minutes of the 90 to play. Trai Hume delivered an outstanding ball in from the fitting and, with Michael Ihiekwe ball-watching, the Spaniard was free to move the ball past Beadle.
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Mayenda heads residence to place Sunderland again in entrance
In stoppage time, Djeidi Gassama noticed a robust low strike bravely blocked by Mepham, however, in any other case, there was little indication the out-of-form Owls have been ever going to discover a manner again into the sport.
The managers
Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl:
“I must say again, we played a fantastic game again against a strong side. Good opportunities to score, we conceded two easy goals and then, in the end, you have a big decision against you. It’s football at the moment. But the conceded goals are too easy and, for me, this is the main part.
“After I noticed the purpose we conceded, this can be a handball, that is the rationale why I’ve a transparent thoughts about what we have to do on this scenario. For the time being, it is the end result – what ought to I do? For me, it is about what I can change as a supervisor of this group and we have now to work laborious, do the fundamentals proper many times.
“The ball possession and how we create chances was good to see; it was the dynamic, the front-foot defending; we were brave in a lot of good moments, but it ended 2-1 against us.
“If we proceed our performances like this, within the remaining 11 video games we have now a giant, huge alternative to take one thing.”
Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris:
“Necessary win after two defeats, on a tough pitch, however that was the case for each groups. We began nicely and after that, the dynamic of the sport was a bit of bit unusual as a result of it wasn’t simple to maintain the ball and impose our fashion of play.
“But at least we showed our character; especially after the equaliser at the beginning of the second half, it was important to react. It was a good win, a good three points.
“It is not all the time a query of soccer qualities, it is a query of character and I believe the resilience of the group, the connection – even with new starters, new gamers who got here in on the finish of the sport – we felt the vitality and the willingness to win, even when it wasn’t spectacular from the standard of the soccer we performed.”
