Sunderland gem comes of age and comes to Black Cats rescue in much-needed win

WHAT a talent Sunderland possess in Tommy Watson. And how grateful the Black Cats were to their teenage star for his dazzling matchwinning display against Stoke, scoring both goals to bring a much needed end to a winless run that looked set to stretch on in frustration fashion.

It was Watson who struck to immediately cancel out Lewis Koumas’ sixth minute Stoke opener, and the winger’s first goal for Sunderland sparked a first half of home attacks and missed opportunities.

The Black Cats again looked set to pay the price for their lack of cutting edge in attack, with Wilson Isidor guilty of spurning several chances, but Watson came to Sunderland’s rescue, scoring his second goal with the home side’s 23rd shot four minutes from time.

The goals capped a brilliant display from Watson, who was the best player on the pitch throughout. And he showed his character, shrugging off a missed chance late on to pop up with a winner the Black Cats desperately needed.

Sunderland started like a team intent on getting back on track, with Patrick Roberts cutting inside and lashing over. And not even Stoke’s early opener knocked the Black Cats out of their stride.

The Stadium of Light was briefly stunned when Koumas raced away down the right and tucked home at the second time of asking after Anthony Patterson had saved the Liverpool loanee’s first effort.

But Sunderland and Watson responded instantly and brilliantly, the teenager lashing home from inside the box. Watson was clearly buoyed by his first Sunderland goal and almost scored a second soon after, denied by the feet of Viktor Johansson at his front post.

Sunderland had 10 shots in the opening 35 minutes, one of which was a fiercely hit Isidor free-kick which Johansson did remarkably well to keep out. And the chances kept coming for the Black Cats and their striker, who could have had hat-trick before the break.

He was again denied by Johansson when he only had the keeper to beat after latching on to a through-ball, then volleyed wide from close range when he was picked out by Alese. His frustration deepened when another low drive was then stopped by the visiting keeper.

Stoke somehow made it to the break level, surviving one final first half scare when Watson’s curling effort clipped the outside of the post. But the second half started like the first had finished, with Sunderland creating and missing chances. Watson’s cut-back for Rigg was deflected and desperately punched away by Johansson. Hume then fired into the side netting from close range.

But with the wind now in Sunderland’s faces, the tempo then dropped and the chances dried up. Other than a Bellingham header that was easily saved, there was brief respite for Stoke, who were very nearly gifted a rare opening of their own when the wind almost blew the ball off the foot of Sunderland’s last man Dan Ballard and into the path of the waiting Tom Cannon.

Watson was Sunderland’s likeliest route to goal and teed up Rigg who was denied by Johansson, before the winger missed a glorious opportunity of his own when he skied over from six yards after fine build-up play from Roberts.

Le Bris resisted any temptation to turn to his bench until the 79th minute and one of the two players introduced, Eliezer Mayenda, almost made an instant impact when his knock-down was tapped in by Isidor, but the striker was offside.

But Sunderland and Watson weren't to be denied, and the winger stole the show with his late strike after Roberts' cross.