Goalden boy Lewis Grabs the plaudits
MATCH ANALYSIS: Norwich 1 Sunderland 3
LEWIS Grabban scored twice against his old club – and netted an unfortunate own-goal – as Sunderland finally ended their August hoodoo.
Grabban put the Black Cats ahead against Norwich just before the half-hour at Carrow Road, Aiden McGeady netting a stunning first goal for the Wearsiders on the hour to give Sunderland some breathing space.
Grabban headed home the third 10 minutes later to ensure there was no way back for Norwich, although the Canaries did claim a consolation goal when the unfortunate Grabban put through his own net in the final quarter-hour as the Wearsiders tried to defend a free-kick.
However, that could not take the shine off a first league win of the season for Sunderland - and for new boss Simon Grayson.
It also put paid to the Black Cats’ eight-year wait for a league win in August, their last one having come in 2010 when Darren Bent’s late penalty gave them victory over Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.
After making four changes for Thursday’s Carabao Cup game at Bury, Grayson reverted to the same starting XI which began Sunderland’s season-opener against Derby.
Lee Cattermole, Lamine Kone, Billy Jones, and James Vaughan, all returned to the side, Darron Gibson, John O’Shea, Adam Matthews and Wahbi Khazri dropping out.
Norwich made a bright start and put Sunderland under pressure inside the first quarterhour, Marley Watkins seeing a free-kick deflect behind off the wall and then a few minutes later Ty Browning made an excellent challenge to block a shot from Cameron Jerome.
Sunderland’s front two Vaughan and Grabban – both are former Norwich City men – linked up well in the first half and looked a real threat.
Just after the quarter-hour, Vaughan played the ball through for Grabban inside the box on the right and he went round the outside of Marcel Franke - but from a tight angle could only send a shot into the sidenetting.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and felt hard done by when Yanic Wildschut appeared to be held back by Brendan Galloway inside the box - but referee Andy Madley turned down their penalty appeals.
Jerome had the ball in the net on 20 minutes but the flag had long since been raised against him for straying offside.
Sunderland scored against the run of play on 27 minutes and again it was Vaughan and Grabban who did the damage.
A long ball forward was flicked on by Vaughan into the path of Grabban inside the box and he steered it past the advancing Angus Gunn.
The goal sparked Sunderland into life and they could have added to their lead before halftime, Gunn needing to be alert to get to the ball a split-second ahead of Grabban after another Vaughan knock-down.
The Wearsiders doubled their lead on the hour with a terrific strike from McGeady.
George Honeyman’s corner from the right was cleared only as far as Cattermole on the edge of the box and he teed up McGeady to smash a shot past Gunn into the right side of the net.
Twenty minutes from time Grabban added his second and Sunderland’s third.
McGeady’s little step-over bamboozled his marker on the left flank and he floated a cross to the far post for Grabban to nod home from close range.
Norwich pulled a goal back 12 minutes from the end, Grabban only succeeding in stabbing the ball into his own net as he tried to clear when Maddison’s freekick was headed back across goal by Franke.