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.

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 Sunderland teetering on the edge of the bottom three.

Both sides looked to attack from the off as the game constantly saw the ball travel from either side 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 easy for 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.

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 was handed its 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 and the ball was able to make its way into the hands of a thankful Hennessey.

A full-action 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, with the former Manchester United man striking to get his second of the season.

It really should have been two for the visitors after Sunderland was awarded a penalty after Larsson won a spot kick from a rather obvious dive that Phil Dowd somehow mistranslated as a foul. The midfielder took the kick, but his poor effort was easily dealt with by Westwood, 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 nine 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 on the attack, leaving Sunderland frustrated in its wake and earning McCarthy’s men a well-earned consecutive home victory.

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