‘Cirkin has top flight qualities’
Dennis Cirkin sent sunderland surging into the play-off mix with a glorious double at the Hawthorns.
Both sides went into the game knowing victory would shunt them up to sixth spot but it was Dennis the Menace who took centre stage with an 84th-minute winner.
The 21-year-old defender grabbed a second-half double to overhaul West Brom’s first-half lead.
And Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray said: “i kept saying why is Dennis in the box? But i’m delighted for him. He’s amazing.
“He’s a really powerful, aggressive guy who undoubtedly has Premier League qualities.”
Former Baggies boss Mowbray hopes his side have what it takes to go that step further, saying: “i thought we deserved it but bear in mind the average age out there today was 22. For such young lads they are doing great.”
There had been little to separate the sides until things came to a head on the stroke of half-time.
The Baggies were awarded a controversial penalty when John swift was sent tumbling in a challenge with Luke O’nien.
Blasted
swift stepped up and calmly blasted the ball low right down the middle to give Albion the lead.
But the home crowd’s joy didn’t last too long, with the Black Cats getting themselves level within six minutes of the restart.
sunderland had just sustained a frenzied attack on their goal which featured three or four superb blocks to quell the onslaught.
And when they broke clear and forged forward they were suddenly in business thanks to a jinking run from skipper Lynden Gooch.
He somehow managed to squeeze himself into enough space to clip a cross towards the penalty spot where Cirkin was lurking and he made no mistake, rising well to meet the ball 10 yards out and bury a powerful header into the top corner.
But his real moment of glory was yet to come when he finished off a classy interchange between subs edouard Michut and Alex Pritchard.
Cirkin was in prime position as Albion got in a tizz and when his chance came he swept it into the roof of the net to floor the home side right in front of the 2,000 delirious travelling supporters.