A last-gasp shot from skipper Kevin Ball earned Sunderland precious points in
the First Division promotion battle against Wolves at Molineux.
Ball found the target with a magnificent shot with just two minutes left on
the clock after Mark McGhee's men squandered a string of golden chances in a
one-sided opening half.
It was only the second time this season Ball has got his name on the
scoresheet in what was only his second game since returning to action from a
troublesome thigh injury that kept him sidelined since October.
The skipper snatched the vital points when he blasted a 20-yard shot over
goalkeeper Mike Stowell after a cross from Allan Johnston was only half-cleared
by the Wolves defence.
The defeat, Wolves' second inside a week after being unbeaten in the league at
home all season, badly dented the promotion hopes of McGhee who maintained it
was a game they could not afford to lose.
But it was Wolves who held the attacking reins in the first half with
Sunderland keeper Lionel Perez making a string of marvellous saves to deny
Robbie Keane, Dean Richards and Dougie Freedman.
Sunderland were desperately unlucky just before the break when they were
denied the lead by the woodwork with Johnston's shot beating the diving Stowell
only to hit the foot of the post.
Then, just before Ball settled the game, Johnston was again unlucky with a
free-kick from the edge of the area that rattled the crossbar.
Teams
Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat, Naylor, Sedgley, Richards, Curle,
Goodman, Ferguson, Keane, Freedman, Robinson.
Subs Not Used: Paatelainen, Simpson, Atkins.
Booked: Muscat.
Sunderland: Perez, Hall, Gray, Clark, Craddock, Ball,
Lumsdon (Dichio 65), Ord, Quinn, Phillips, Johnston.
Subs Not Used: Melville, Mullin.
Booked: Johnston, Dichio.
Goals: Ball 88.
Att: 27,502
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).
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