Bournemouth - Jermain Defoe's second-half penalty gave 10-man Sunderland their first win at the 11th attempt in the Premier League this season as they beat Bournemouth 2-1 away on Saturday.
The 34-year-old former England striker's sixth goal of the
season - against a team where he spent a productive season on loan as an
18-year-old scoring 18 goals for them - completed the Black Cats comeback.
Ryan Gosling had put the hosts a goal up in the first-half
before Victor Anichebe levelled only for former South African international
Steven Pienaar to be sent off but it was the Black Cats who had the final say
through Defoe.
Sunderland move on to five points but stay bottom because of
a worse goal difference than Swansea who host Manchester United on Sunday.
Victory also ensures Sunderland will not go on to earn the
tag of worst start to a Premier League league start.
The shared it with Manchester City, who began the 1995-96
season in identical fashion before losing their 11th match 6-0 against
Liverpool.
The hosts made a cracking start as the Sunderland players
looked as if the only thing they learnt on their visit to the Nissan car
factory this week was how to operate reverse gear as they were on the back foot
from the start.
Ireland international Harry Arter produced a superb long
range effort inside the first five minutes but Sunderland's young goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford saved superbly.
However, he could do nothing about Gosling's goal as he
converted via his stomach a great cross by Adam Smith for his third goal of the
campaign.
Pickford kept his side in the game as he pulled off another
terrific stop from Joshua King who had been set up by the impressive Junior
Stanislas.
The Sunderland fans must have seen something that the rest
of the onlookers had missed for their rendition of Bob Marley's "Don't
worry about a thing, every little thing's gonna be all right," proved
prescient as the Black Cats drew level.
Defoe teed up Anichebe and he turned smartly in the area
holding off Simon Francis and fired the ball past Artur Boruc.
Sunderland's tails were up and a fine sweeping move
involving Anichebe and Defoe led to Paddy McNair whipping in a cross which was
turned in by Duncan Watmore only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Sunderland continued in the same vibrant form in the
second-half only for their momentum to be halted as Pienaar was sent off for a
second bookable offence.
Pickford then prevented the Cherries taking the lead as he
denied England midfielder Jack Wilshere a goal on his 100th Premier League
appearance.
However, the game swung back in Sunderland's favour when
Smith brought down Anichebe and Defoe slotted home the resulting penalty with
16 minutes remaining and ending Boruc's run of three saved spot kicks.
Bournemouth threw everything at the Sunderland defence, substitute Benik Afobe should have done better on two occasions whilst Pickford once again came to his team-mates' aid with a stunning save from Joshua King at close range.