Match ends, Sunderland 2, Walsall 1.
SunderlandSunderland2WalsallWalsall1
Will Grigg boosted Sunderland's promotion hopes by scoring the winner as the Black Cats came from behind to beat relegation-threatened Walsall.
The Saddlers, who slipped into the bottom four, took an early lead at the Stadium of Light through Josh Gordon, but Lee Cattermole equalised before Grigg struck with 19 minutes left.
The Black Cats close the gap on second-placed Barnsley to two points, with a game in hand.
Walsall struck in the fourth minute when Gordon flicked in a George Dobson free-kick.
But Cattermole's 33rd-minute back-post volley found its way into the net after hitting the frame of the goal and bodies on the line.
That goal sparked Sunderland, who created the better of the chances from then on.
Grigg, Grant Leadbitter and Max Power all had fantastic opportunities to put the home side ahead before the winner arrived.
Just seconds after substitute Charlie Wyke was introduced, his first touch was to lay the ball off for Grigg, who took a touch before finding the inside of goalkeeper Liam Roberts' bottom left corner to score his third goal for the club.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Sunderland
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1McLaughlin
- 13O'Nien
- 12Flanagan
- 15Baldwin
- 2MatthewsSubstituted forHumeat 67'minutes
- 6CattermoleBooked at 49minsSubstituted forGoochat 62'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 23LeadbitterBooked at 35mins
- 17MorganSubstituted forWykeat 71'minutes
- 27Power
- 19McGeady
- 22Grigg
Substitutes
- 8McGeouch
- 9Wyke
- 11Gooch
- 25Ruiter
- 26Sterling
- 30Dunne
- 33Hume
Walsall
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Roberts
- 6Devlin
- 35Scarr
- 5GuthrieBooked at 38mins
- 3Leahy
- 15Kinsella
- 4Dobson
- 2EdwardsSubstituted forOtehat 88'minutes
- 38Blackett-TaylorSubstituted forCookat 73'minutes
- 29GordonBooked at 56mins
- 10Ismail
Substitutes
- 9Cook
- 13Dunn
- 27Fitzwater
- 28Norman
- 30Osbourne
- 34Laird
- 36Oteh
- Referee:
- Alan Young
- Attendance:
- 34,647
Match Stats
Home TeamSunderlandAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Walsall 1.
Booking
Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Andy Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Liam Kinsella (Walsall) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by William Grigg (Sunderland).
Post update
George Dobson (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Aramide Oteh replaces Joe Edwards.
Post update
Delay in match Dan Scarr (Walsall) because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).
Post update
Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Denver Hume (Sunderland).
Post update
Nicky Devlin (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Josh Gordon (Walsall).
Post update
Foul by Denver Hume (Sunderland).
Post update
Zeli Ismail (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Grant Leadbitter (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).
Post update
Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
