Striker Eliezer Mayenda has earned praise from a Sky Sports pundit after starring in Sunderland’s massive win against fellow promotion-chasers Sheffield United.

The Black Cats have an incredible unbeaten home record this season but even so, few would have expected them to overcome the Blades in this top-four clash.

But it was Sunderland who came out on top in a 2-1 win against the Blades, with goals from Mayenda and Wilson Isidor sealing all three points for Regis Le Bris’ side.

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It’s a win that takes Sunderland within two points of the automatic promotion spots now, and offers a real signal of intent for their promotion charge this season.

Speaking to Sky Sports as part of the post-match analysis, former Ipswich Town player Luke Chambers was full of praise for Mayenda in particular, who proved his critics wrong with a match-winning performance at the Stadium of Light.

Chambers said: “The take from Mayenda with his left foot, to steady himself and then finish. He’s finished it tremendously well which sums up why he got man of the match. He was absolutely first class.”

Mayenda scored the opening goal of the game, before assisting Isidor less than 10 minutes later to restore Sunderland’s lead, to take his goal contribution tally to seven for the season.

Given the quality of his display against Sheffield United, in what has been described as his best game of the season, it’s incredible to think that Mayenda was public enemy number one around Sunderland just days ago.

Sunderland fans wanted Mayenda to be dropped after his poor performances against Stoke and Blackburn, but Le Bris handed him a surprise start versus the Blades, and it paid off.