Neil notches up his first win for Sunderland as Cats move fifth
STEWART IS SPOT-KICK HERO
ROSS Stewart scored twice from the penalty spot to help Alex Neil claim his first victory since taking charge at Sunderland.
The Black Cats took the lead against second-placed Wigan inside the first two minutes through centre-back Bailey Wright.
And Stewart won and converted the first penalty shortly before half-time, before tucking away the second late in the game after Latics skipper Tendayi Darikwa had handled inside the box.
Those goals took Stewart’s tally for the season to 22, as Sunderland completed a league double against the automatic promotion chasers.
But more importantly, it ended Sunderland’s six-game winless streak and lifted them to fifth in the table, reigniting what had looked like a stalling play-off challenge.
Neil made two changes to the side that started the midweek draw against Burton, including handing Arbenit Xhemajli his League One debut in central defence at the expense of Callum Doyle.
The second change saw Elliot Embleton return to the starting XI and he replaced Jermain Defoe.
Wigan boss Leam Richardson made one change to the side that started his side’s win at Wycombe on Tuesday, with Gwion Edwards replacing Gavin Massey.
Sunderland made the perfect start, taking the lead from a setpiece from what was the first attack of the match.
Alex Pritchard was brought
down outside the right-hand corner of the box and he took the resulting free-kick, with his delivery into the box finding Wright six yards out and he guided his glancing header inside the left-hand post.
It was just the lift Sunderland needed, and the 5,000 travelling fans behind that goal erupted when the ball hit the net.
Wigan launched a strong response, and Anthony Patterson did well to hold onto a longrange free-kick from ex-sunderland man Max Power.
And another former Black Cat, James Mcclean, should have equalised a couple of minutes later when a low ball from the right found him at the far post but he sent his shot across the face of goal and wide.
There was a nervy moment shortly before the half-hour when Xhemajli tried to shepherd a long ball through to Patterson and Callum Lang almost nipped between them, but Patterson did enough to block the shot.
The penalty came on 38 minutes, when Stewart and Curtis Tilt stretched for the ball inside the area and the striker got there first while the defender tripped him. Referee Sam Purkiss pointed straight to the spot, and Stewart stepped up to convert and send his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.
Sunderland had chances
extend their lead still further within minutes of the second half getting under way.
First, Wright was inches away from connecting with Stewart’s drive across the face of goal following a Pritchard free-kick. And then Embleton slipped the ball to Pritchard inside the area, and his shot flashed just wide of the righthand post.
Wigan could have reduced the deficit just before the hour mark when Lang was put through on goal, but Xhemajli put him under pressure as he got into the penalty area and the advancing Patterson made an excellent save. Stewart sent a shot narrowly wide at one end, and
Tilt headed wide from a Mcclean free-kick at the other.
But Sunderland wrapped things up in the 87th minute when
Stewart scored his second goal from the