This was a win both a long time in the making and thoroughly deserved. But with 13 minutes to go, things looked to be taking a familiar path. Wolves had failed to make dominance pay in the first half, and had shown some vulnerability at the back, but had come out second half and scored a deserved goal. They then retreated into their shell, defensive errors crept in as Sunderland were more on the attack, and Wolves found themselves losing with less than a quarter of an hour to go.

This game could have very easily continued the well-trod path. There was no doubt that these players would chase the game with all their hearts but, as we’ve seen against Bolton and Blackpool in the last two games alone, this doesn’t always bring it’s reward. But we ended with a win today and we did so purely because of clinical finishes from Foley and Ebanks-Blake and Hunt in the right place at the right time (which we crucially lacked in the last few weeks) to get their goals. Sunderland, without their first choice central defence, won’t be happy with the goals they conceded, but we deserved them. I won’t say Wolves showed any more grit that they have up to now in trying to fight their way back that in previous games, because that has never been lacking it was just that today it finally paid off – we scored more goals than the opposition for once.

There was the same passion from the team, the same commitment, the same good interplay, but there were also the same defensive worries. Despite our dominance, Sunderland are a potent attacking side, and we were already dicing with disaster in the first half. With injuries and suspensions, it was a makeshift defence, who performed reasonably in the circumstances, with Elokobi making a commendable job of his shift to the centre. Stearman in particular though, however well he does the rest of the time (and let’s not forget he had a legitimate goal disallowed for offside), has an unfortunate knack for errors at crucial moments. However good Bent’s strike for Sunderland’s first was, Stearman made a big mistake in letting the ball reach him.

Sunderland’s second from Wellbeck was a fantastic header from near the penalty spot but although no one could have expected him to get the ball in from there, someone should have been challenging him for the header anyway. It wasn’t such a wonder goal as Varney scored last week, but the same lessons apply – challenge everything because sometimes the opposition are better than you expect.

Man of the Match

Because we do have the win however, today is definitely a day to focus on the positives, and there are plenty of those in an excellent attacking performance, in which the defence fully played their part.

Hennessey – Good to see him back in the team. Not too much asked of him, or much he could do with the goals, but sound 7

Zubar – How good is it to see this guy back. Good return to the team 8
Stearman – For all his good qualities, makes too many crucial mistakes 6
Elokobi – Surprisingly good performance in the central defence 7
Ward – Did nowt wrong and worked as hard as ever 7

Foley – Excellent goal for the captain for the day, and good performance in midfield 8
Jones – Good effort and skill all over the pitch 7
Mancienne – Did what was asked of him. One notable mistake in a bad back pass could have cost a goal 7
Milijas – Superb game yet again, excellent vision and passing – especially a couple of excellent long range deliveries to Jarvis 8
Jarvis – Continues to cause huge problems for the opposition and the quality of balls into the box this year has been spot on 8

Doyle – Continues to make a vital all round contribution to the team, but not get the goals himself. Could he do better behind Ebank’s Blake? 8

Ebanks-Blake – Now our top goal scorer, and a great goal to take him there
Hunt – Looked better as a substitute. Important goal and loved his goal celebration which was to urge everyone to get back up the pitch and get the winner.

And, of course, two prescient substitutions from McCarthy definitely paid off in the two goalscorers.

Great comeback but hopefully they won’t always need such reserves of determination to get a win in the future. They’ll be more wins this season, and more losses, but few will mean as much as this. With a win for West Ham, we would have looked in a very precarious position without this hard-fought result. As it is we’re still second bottom and there’ll be plenty more ups and downs to come, but this is a major result to build on.

And finally, before I forget…