Emotions run high for Beale

Ekwah 52, Clarke 59, Bellingham 67

PLYMOUTH

EMOTIONAL Michael Beale was close to tears as he thanked Sunderland supporters for an emotional tribute to his niece.

Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke fired the Mackems into the play-off zone.

Sunderland are flying under Beale and overturned a half-time deficit to steamroller Plymouth with three cracking goals.

And Beale was visibly moved by a huge fourth-minute ovation for his four-year-old niece Poppy, who last week had a relapse in her leukemia battle.

Beale had to pause his press conference, overcome by emotion, to compose himself, and said: “It is hard to speak about it, thanks to everyone.”

Sub Bellingham sealed the points with his first touch. He curled a right-foot shot into the top corner from 18 yards.

Earlier star winger Clarke netted his 14th of the season, an even more spectacular effort, dribbling down the wing, cutting inside and bending a brilliant shot in off the post.

Pierre Ekwah curled in the leveller from a 20-yard free-kick after the 1,200 Argyle fans who made the 820-mile round trip were rewarded with the opener.

Morgan Whittaker pinged a first-time ball into the Black Cats half for Ryan Hardie to chase.

His finish was cool, rounding Anthony Patterson who was 40 yards off his line, but then chipping over the keeper when he recovered to try and block.

Beale said: “Jack’s strike was fantastic the power he generated and Jobe’s wasn’t bad.

“We only played in one half. We went bold in our line-up. And we are mixing up the goals, a huge positive.”

Plymouth coach Ian Foster said: “It was a one-sided decision making process from the ref.” SUNDERLAND: Patterson 7; Hume 7, Ballard 7, O’nien 7, Hjelde 7, Neil 7; Roberts 7 (Mundle (69) 6), Ba 7 (Bellingham (65) 8), Ekwah 8 (Rigg (65) 7), Clarke 8; Rusyn 8 (Aouchiche (88) 5) PLYMOUTH: Hazard 6; Philips 6 (Pleguezuelo (77) 6) Gibson 6, Galloway 6; Mumba 6 (Sorinola (72) 6), Gyani 6, Forshaw 6 (Randell (65) 6), Miller 6 (Sousa (72) 6); Whittaker 7, Hardie 7, Devine 7 (Waine 78) 6) STAR MAN: Jack Clarke – Turned the game with the second goal. REF: Anthony Backhouse 7