Black Cats shown the light by Anichebe

VICTOR ANICHEBE was Sunderland’s hero as they completed backto-back Premier League victories despite the Stadium of Light failing to live up to its name.

Anichebe’s double after Jermain Defoe had racked up his 150th Premier League goal sealed a priceless win over fellow strugglers Hull. It gave the Black Cats, who had Papy Djilobodji sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, renewed hope of dragging themselves out of trouble.

Black Cats keeper Jordan Pickford was called upon for the first time with less than two minutes on the clock when Dieumerci Mbokani showed Djilobodji a clean pair of heels to test him at his near post.

It was the home side who broke the deadlock 11 minutes before the break when Defoe ran on to Watmore’s flick-on before depositing the ball in the bottom corner.

Hull keeper David Marshall kept his side in it when he repelled Watmore’s close-range effort at his near post with less than a minute of the second half gone, although the stadium was plunged into darkness by a power cut three minutes later.

Play resumed after a break of around nine minutes and Josh Tymon had to make a vital block to deny Anichebe after being rolled by the striker.

Six minutes from time, Anichebe took Patrick van Aanholt’s pass and cut inside Tymon to fire past Marshall before doubling his tally deep into injury time.

Sunderland boss David Moyes was quick to praise his two-goal hero, saying: ‘He was immense today. Victor has got the capability of doing it. He needs to be loved and I think the fans are helping him with that.’