Wolves 2-1 Sunderland: Fletcher brace completes comeback for hosts in front of new Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill

The first-half was a messy affair with both sides failing to add any conviction to their respective attacks, leaving both sets of fans with little to cheer for.

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However, an eventful second period was to follow, with three goals in an exciting 45 minutes. A great strike from Kieran Richardson opened the scoring, whilst Larsson failed to convert an undeserved spot-kick before Wolves struck on the counter, allowing Fletcher to get the first of his brace before he secured all three points with 10 minutes remaining.

The result allowed Wolves to move ahead of Sunderland by three points, leaving the Black Cats teetering on the edge of the bottom three.

There were four changes to the Wolves side that were brushed aside by Chelsea, with Roger Johnson, Nenad Milijas, George Elokobi and Karl Henry all dropped to the bench with the exception of the latter, who missed out through suspension.

Their opponents made just the one change, as Michael Turner found himself without a place in the match squad at Molineux. Meanwhile Ji Dong-Won made his first start for Sunderland since joining in the summer.

Both sides looked to attack from the off as the game constantly saw the ball travel from either end of the pitch for an unsettled opening 10 minutes. Stephane Sessegnon was given a chance to test Wayne Hennessey during the first few moments with a well struck volley that was lacking power and was easily collected by the Welsh ‘keeper.

In Wolves’ first real attack of the half, a corner began a string of events that started with a denied penalty claim, as Lee Cattermole looked to have impeded David Edwards in the box, and then lead to a close encounter for Sunderland ‘keeper Keiren Westwood who was forced to save a Fletcher header at the far post right on the line, whilst the hosts looked for confirmation of a goal.

End-to-end football ensued for much of the first-half, with both outfits attempting to break the other’s defence, but to no avail as each backline remained resolute to deny the attackers.

Wolves seemed the side most likely to make something with their consistent attacking, as O’Hara was given a clear sight of goal, but a lack of conviction gave his effort little chance of passing Westwood.

Just before the half was out, Westwood was called into action again. This time having to make an impulsive and acrobatic save from a well struck Stephen Hunt effort from inside the six yard box that was cannoned towards the Black Cats' ‘keeper.

Sunderland were handed their own glorious chance after great interplay between Ji and Sessegnon, with the latter denied by a fantastic sliding block off the line by Stephen Ward as the ball made its way into the hands of a thankful Hennessey.

An action-packed second half began with Sunderland going against the grain to get the game’s opener through a well taken effort from Richardson at a difficult angle. Sessegnon had played the full-back down the left flank perfectly before the former Manchester United man bagged his second of the season.

It really should have been two for the visitors as Sunderland were awarded a penalty after Larsson's rather obvious dive was adjudged as a foul by Phil Dowd. The midfielder took the kick, but his poor effort was easily dealt with by Hennessey, with disastrous consequences for the away side.

On the counter, Wolves raced up the field and worked the ball into the Sunderland area and it made its way to Fletcher who finished it from close-range to get his team right back into the thick of it.

Wolves immediately pushed for another and got the winner with 10 minutes remaining. The ball was delivered in the direction of O’Hara and the midfielder seemed to control the pass with his arm, but no sanction was given and the ball dropped into Fletcher's feet for him to smash home on the volley.

The hosts saw the game out by not giving up in attack, leaving Sunderland frustrated in their wake and earning McCarthy’s men a well-earned consecutive home victory.