Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MART BREAKS MOYES HEART
De Roon strike leaves Black Cats on the brink
MARTEN DE ROON grabbed Boro’s first league win for four months – throwing David Moyes into more turmoil. The Boro midfielder scored in the ninth minute to leave Sunderland facing relegation this weekend. Boro had not won since beating Swansea before Christmas and got only their fifth victory of the campaign. It leaves them still needing a miracle to stay up, six points behind fourthbottom Hull with four games left. For Sunderland it is all over bar the mathematics. They have been in the relegation zone since December 10 and never been higher than 16th in a miserable season. They’ve only won two points from the last nine games, and this was their fourth consecutive away defeat without scoring. They could be relegated with a defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday if Hull get something at Southampton. It was Steve Agnew’s first win as Boro caretaker boss, after six games in charge. But they face Manchester City on Sunday. Second-bottom Boro started brightly, looking to grasp their flimsy Premier League lifeline with a win. But bottom club Sunderland turned in an embarrassing first-half performance. The goal came from De Roon thanks to a brilliant through-ball from Adam Clayton. He clipped a 35yard pass down the middle onto De Roon’s chest with John O’shea and Billy Jones split. De Roon squeezed a shot between Jordan Pickford’s legs for his fifth goal of the season. Sunderland fans soon became as disillusioned as their team with Moyes’ men well off the pace, chanting: “We want Moysey out, we want Moysey out.” It was only Boro’s 14th home goal and 24th in total, the lowest of any side in the league. Amazingly it was the 25th time Moyes (below) and his side have fallen behind this term. Pickford denied Stewart Downing a second with a magnificent save with the winger through on goal. It was his 110th save of the season – only Burnley’s Tom Heaton has made more. Jermain Defoe’s goals have dried up – his last coming in early-february – but he did produce a well-taken volley. Didier Ndong smashed a left-foot shot which Brad Guzan saved well.