'It was meant to be' Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe on reaching 150 landmark

Manager David Moyes had lauded the 34-year-old striker ahead of the match and Defoe didn't disappoint with a brilliant strike in the 34th minute to open the scoring.

Fellow forwards Victor Anichebe and Duncan Watmore were involved in the build-up, with the latter flicking the ball on towards Defoe who beat three men before rifling a low shot past David Marshall.

The club's top scorer ghosted past Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady and skipper Michael Dawson before netting - a fitting strike for a big landmark.

Anichebe added a brace as Sunderland recorded their first home win and first clean sheet of the season.

Defoe scored his first top-flight goal for West Ham United in a win over Ipswich back in late October 2001.

Fifteen years on he joins an elite group who have notched 150 in the top flight including Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Andy Cole, Frank Lampard, Thierry Henry, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.

Defoe, who now has seven goals in 13 appearances, said: "It feels amazing.

"The manager said some nice things about me in his pre-match press conference about me reaching 150, but to get it at home in front of these fans is special.

"I wanted to do it at the Stadium of Light so to do it here in a big game that we’ve won, and earn back-to-back wins, was meant to be, and I believe it was meant to happen like this so I’m delighted.

"It was a massive game for us and one we had to win so to put in a performance like that and get three points is brilliant.

"When you get back-to-back wins, which is never easy at any stage of the season, and have good performances its important.

"There is so much more this team is going to bring between now and the end of the season."

His 150th Premier League goal came in his 443rd appearance.