da jogodeouro： Steven Fletcher scored a second half double for Wolves as they came from behind to beat Sunderland at Molineux with new Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill watching from the stands.
da betsson： In a week where Steve Bruce was axed by chairman Ellis Short his replacement was in the Midlands to cast his eye over a side that had won just one of their last nine Premier League games. They had endured a torrid start to the season with morale at an all time low under Bruce but many fans believe lifelong Sunderland fan O’Neill is the man to bring the glory days back to Wearside. He’ll have an almighty job on his hands to haul the club away from the relegation zone after they slipped to fourth bottom after two late goals from Fletcher secured all three points for Mick McCarthy’s men. The Wolves boss will have been delighted to get one over on his former employers and see his side move four points clear of the bottom three after seeing his job come under increasing scrutiny. It was by far the purist performance from Wanderers as they fell a goal behind in the second half after Kieron Richardson’s swerving shot beat Wayne Hennessey. The visitors then squanderers a chance to double their lead with Sebastian Larsson missing a penalty before Fletcher’s double sealed the points for Wolves.
Eric Black took charge of the Black Cats for the first and only time with O’Neill official starting work on Monday and he will be concerned with the brittleness of his new squad. He will have been impressed by goalkeeper Kieron Westwood though with the Republic of Ireland international doing well to deny Fletcher in the first half before clawing away Steven Hunt’s effort to keep his side on level terms. Sunderland were their normal mundane selves during the opening forty five minutes creating little of note before taking the lead after the break through Richardson. A swift counter attack saw Stephane Sessegnon feed the midfielder who lashed a superb shot into the top corner to score the first goal of O’Neill’s reign. They were then handed the chance to wrap up their first win since October after Jody Craddock fouled Larsson in the area 18 minutes from time. The Swede stepped up to take the resulting spot kick but was denied by a superb save from Hennessey.
That proved to be the catalyst for Wolves’ comeback as Fletcher pounced just seconds after the missed penalty to equalise heading home Matt Jarvis’ cross despite Westwood getting a touch to the ball. The hosts piled forward in search of a winner and it duly came nine minutes from time with Fletcher once again on target. Despite appeals for handball from the Sunderland players referee Phil Dowd didn’t bat an eyelid allowing the Scotland international to turn and fire home his fifth goal of the season and seal a priceless victory for McCarthy and his side. For O’Neill and his beleaguered Black Cats the hard work starts first thing Monday morning.