Tommy Smith, Gary Breen and Kevin Kyle fired Sunderland to victory over
Sheffield United to keep the pressure on Norwich and West Brom at the top of the
First Division.
Smith's opener and two second-half goals were enough to overcome the
disappointing Blades, who failed to return to the play-off places with a third
straight defeat and have now won just once in six matches.
Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy brought in Smith and Darren Byfield for Kyle and
Marcus Stewart following the midweek win over Wimbledon - and it paid immediate
dividends.
Smith gave his side the lead after seven minutes, finishing off a sweeping
breakaway.
A long clearance was flicked on by Byfield to Smith, who played the ball into
the path of Jason McAteer down the right flank.
The Republic of Ireland international held off a challenge from Mark Rankine
and his cross to the near post was met perfectly by Smith, who fired a rising
shot past Paddy Kenny.
Blades boss Neil Warnock was determined to learn the lessons from their FA Cup
quarter-final defeat at the Stadium of Light last month, bringing in the
defensive Simon Francis and Alan Wright to give his midfield a solid look - but,
having conceded such an early goal, Warnock's gameplan seemed to be in tatters.
The home side continued to press and with a quarter-of-an-hour gone, the
lively Smith robbed Blades skipper Robert Page and cut infield from the left,
but his low cross for Sean Thornton was cut out by goalkeeper Kenny at the near
post.
It took 20 minutes for the visitors to have a shot on goal.
With goalkeeper Mart Poom suffering from a dead leg, Thomas Myhre was handed
his first Black Cats start of the season. But he was never troubled by a Paul
Shaw effort which sailed high and wide from long distance after the former
Gillingham man had turned Gary Breen.
With five minutes left before the break, Wright's well struck free-kick beat
the wall, but was straight at Myhre and Sunderland were good value for their
half-time lead.
As the game opened up after the break the Blades pushed forward, chasing an
equaliser. But it was Sunderland who went closest to scoring again.
Carl Robinson, on-loan from Portsmouth, set off on a jinking run, beating two
defenders, but could not beat the on-rushing Kenny with his low shot.
The disappointing Page was withdrawn for Ashley Sestanovich on the hour, but
five minutes later Breen wrong-footed marker Phil Jagielka to head home Sean
Thornton's corner and double the Black Cats advantage.
Three minutes later, Sunderland had Phil Babb to thank for preserving their
two-goal cushion, his outstretched leg blocking Paul Shaw's close-range shot
following substitute Wayne Allison's flick-on.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Kyle latched onto Robinson's long
cross-field ball and his low shot back across the goal gave the home side an
even healthier margin of victory.
That effort and a long-range Michael Tonge shot aside, the Blades rarely
looked like getting back in the game and Warnock's men must reverse their
fortunes quickly if they are to stand a chance of finishing in the top six.
Teams
Sunderland Myhre, Williams, Breen, Babb, Arca, Thornton,
McAteer (Thirlwell 90), Robinson, Oster (Kyle 61), Byfield,
Tommy Smith (Stewart 85).
Subs Not Used: Bjorklund, Alnwick.
Booked: Byfield, Kyle.
Goals: Tommy Smith 7, Breen 65, Kyle 90.
Sheff Utd Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Morgan, Page (Sestanovich 61),
Kozluk, Francis, Tonge, Rankine, Wright (Lester 66),
Gray (Allison 65), Shaw.
Subs Not Used: McLeod, Montgomery.
Att: 27,472
Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).
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