Norwich City 0 Sunderland 3: Huge win for the Black Cats but who scooped man of the match?
The 3-0 win at Carrow Road has pulled Sunderland to within a point of the Canaries and Sam Allardyce's side have a game in hand.
But who scooped the man of the match award? Richard Mennear gives his player ratings below:
Sunderland: (4-1-4-1):
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Hide AdVito Mannone: Solid first half, making some routine but important stops. Norwich carried much more threat second half but Mannone commanded his area....7
DeAndre Yedlin: Too many poor passes, losing possession far too easily. Defended well enough though.....7
Lamine Kone: Had his work cut out with Mbokani but marshalled him well. Played a big part in helping secure another clean sheet....7
Younes Kaboul: Marshalled the back four well, defended well as a unit, the weakness was Van Aanholt first half. Was in the wars at times but impressed again....7
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Hide AdPatrick van Aanholt: Poor first half, allowed the Norwich wide men to beat him too easily. A weak link in the backline but improved second half and helped keep clean sheet.....6
Jan Kirchhoff: Sloppy start to the game, misplaced passes and struggled to get into the game. Better second half and did well to dispossess Bassong for Defoe goal.....6
Lee Cattermole: Impressed and up for the fight. Sunderland's most creative player first half. Showed plenty of spirit, determination and fight. Several clearances off the line. MOM...9
Yann M'Vila: Few too many stray passes, Norwich dominated the opening stages of the game. Improved as Sunderland finally got a foothold in the game. Subbed....7
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Hide AdWahbi Khazri: Poor first half and it was no surprise to see him hooked at half-time. Struggled to make an impact. Booked too.....5
Fabio Borini: Fouled for the penalty before stepping up to execute it brilliantly. Squandered other chances but provided a brilliant pass for Defoe's goal. Goal and assist.....8
Jermain Defoe: Was more involved than against Leicester City but still too isolated up front alone. Kept working hard and got his rewards, stabbing home the second.....7
Subs:
Duncan Watmore (for Khazri, 45): Provided an outlet for Mannone when he came on, worked hard and scored on his return...7
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Hide AdSeb Larsson (for M'Vila, 67): Assisted Watmore for the third goal...7
John O'Shea (for Kirchhoff, 85): Slotted into the holding midfield role...6
Subs Not Used: Pickford, Jones, Toivonen, N'Doye.
Booked: Khazri (32, foul), Cattermole (58, foul)
Goals: Borini (40, penalty), Defoe (53), Watmore (90+1)
Norwich: (4-4-1-1):
John Ruddy: 6
Andre Wisdom: 5
Sebastian Bassong: 5
Ryan Bennett: 6
Martin Olsson: 6
Steven Naismith: 6
Matt Jarvis: 5
Jonny Howson: 6
Gary O'Neil (C): 6
Robbie Brady: 6
Dieumerci Mbokani: 6
Subs:
Cameron Jermone (for Naismith, 74): 5
Nathan Redmond (for Brady, 45): 5
Wes Hoolahan (for Jarvis, 59): 5
Subs Not Used: Rudd (GK), Dorrans, Mulumbu, Pinto
Booked: Wisdom (40, foul), Olsson (58, foul)
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands): Coped well at a feisty Carrow Road. Got the big decisions right, Borini's was certainly a penalty....6/10
Attendance: 27,117