Former Sunderland star salutes crucial victory at Norwich

After goals from Fabio Borini, Jermain Defoe and sub Duncan Watmore steered Sam Allardyce’s side to within a point of fourth-bottom Norwich in the fight for survival, ex-England international Gray tweeted: “That was HUGE.... Well done lads.”

Former Sunderland boss Terry Butcher, who had co-commented on Radio 5Live at Carrow Road, told the BBC: “It wasn’t the most complete performance. Sunderland had opportunities and took them, they looked stronger as the game went on.

“It is a nervous time in Norfolk, they have got to dwell on this for two weeks.”

The tension told on Sunderland-supporting Sky Sports presenter, and Echo columnist, David Jones, who greeted the final whistle with a tweet of “And breathe ..”