Déjà vu!

Behind after a below-par opening, a goal from Dan Ballard to turn the game and a Jobe Bellingham winner.

Swansea last week, Norwich this week. The score was different but the outcome the same, Sunderland finding a way and showing that they have the character to keep pace at the top of the Championship.

Once again they made it difficult for themselves. Regis Le Bris’ side didn’t manage a single shot on target in the first half against the Canaries and trailed 1-0 at the break after Anis Slimane’s 21st minute opener. But for the fourth game in a row they battled back from behind, with Ballard levelling for Sunderland just two minutes into the second half before Bellingham again came up with the winner immediately after Norwich had gone down to 10 men when Jose Cordoba picked up his second yellow card.

Sunderland can’t keep giving opponents a head start and can’t afford many more repeats of their underwhelming opening half against Norwich. But never can you count them out of a game and another comeback will only serve to further build the confidence in the camp. Sunderland's promotion rivals now know the Black Cats aren't going to go quietly.

The Black Cats had Anthony Patterson to thank for picking up all three points rather than just the one, for the keeper got down to his left to make a brilliant late save when he tipped substitute Ashley Barnes’ shot onto the post.

Sunderland endured a shocker of a start at Swansea last week and were again off the pace in the early stages against a Norwich side that headed for Wearside winless in three. The visitors were sharper, slicker and deservedly took the lead just before the midway stage of the first half.

There’d been warning signs before the 21st minute opener.

On more than one occasion the home defence – with Luke O’Nien in for Trai Hume at right-back - was caught out by passes in behind and the Black Cats were relieved to see the offside flag raised when Onel Hernandez raced away one-on-one. Bellingham had done well to cut out another dangerous looking Norwich attack with a well-timed interception followed by a crunching challenge on the edge of his own box.

Patterson kept out an Emiliano Marcondes shot and from the resulting corner the keeper made another fine save from pointblank range to deny Slimane, only for the midfielder to respond quickly and slam home the rebound.

The frustration of Sunderland’s supporters wasn’t helped by some baffling calls from referee Leigh Doughty and tempers briefly flared on the pitch when the referee judged O’Nien to have swung an elbow in the direction of Borja Sainz. O’Nien’s lingering frustration led to a yellow card when he gave Sainz a shove five minutes before the break.

Sunderland needed half-time. And whatever Le Bris said at the break had an instant impact, for the Black Cats were level within two minutes of the restart.

It was Ballard who initially met O’Nien’s free-kick from the right but attempted to tee up a teammate rather than go for goal with his first header. Norwich only half cleared and when Mayenda lifted the ball back into the centre of the box it was the centre-half who met it with a powerful header.

There was suddenly an oomph to Sunderland that was missing in the first half, though there was a warning at the other end when Ante Crnac flashed a shot just wide of Patterson’s left post.

Isidor missed a glorious opportunity to end his goal drought when he blazed over after pouncing on a mistake and racing away one-on-one, though in fairness to the defender he was under pressure from a couple of Norwich defenders.

Norwich were a defender down when Cordoba – who had been booked in the first half after a tussle with Isidor – was given his second caution for a foul on Mepham. And Sunderland took advantage instantly. The free-kick found its way to Bellingham in the area and the teenager coolly cut back on his right foot and found the far corner.

There was a late scare when substitute Barnes had a glorious chance to level but Patterson came to Sunderland’s rescue.