Sunderland 2-1 Walsall

Will Grigg boosted Sunderland's promotion hopes by scoring the winner in a come-from-behind victory over relegation-threatened Walsall.

The Saddlers, who slipped into the bottom four, took an early lead through Josh Gordon but Lee Cattermole equalised before Grigg struck with 19 minutes left at the Stadium of Light.

Victory saw the Black Cats close the gap on second-placed Barnsley to two points, with the Wearside club having 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 to 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 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
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Sunderland

• 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

• 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

Posted at

Match ends, Sunderland 2, Walsall 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Sunderland 2, Walsall 1.

Booking

Posted at 90'+5'

Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. Andy Cook (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt saved. Liam Kinsella (Walsall) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 89'

Foul by William Grigg (Sunderland).

Posted at 89'

George Dobson (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Walsall. Aramide Oteh replaces Joe Edwards.

Posted at 86'

Delay in match Dan Scarr (Walsall) because of an injury.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).

Posted at 86'

Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Denver Hume (Sunderland).

Posted at 84'

Nicky Devlin (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Charlie Wyke (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Josh Gordon (Walsall).

Posted at 80'

Foul by Denver Hume (Sunderland).

Posted at 80'

Zeli Ismail (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Attempt blocked. Grant Leadbitter (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).

Posted at 78'

Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 77'

Foul by Tom Flanagan (Sunderland).

Posted at 77'

Josh Gordon (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Jack Baldwin (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Nicky Devlin (Walsall).

Posted at 73'

Foul by Lynden Gooch (Sunderland).

Posted at 73'

Andy Cook (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Walsall. Andy Cook replaces Corey Taylor.

Goal!

Posted at 71'

Goal! Sunderland 2, Walsall 1. William Grigg (Sunderland) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Charlie Wyke.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Sunderland. Charlie Wyke replaces Lewis Morgan.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Denver Hume (Sunderland).

Posted at 70'

Zeli Ismail (Walsall) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 69'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Nicky Devlin.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, Sunderland. Denver Hume replaces Adam Matthews.

Posted at 66'

Luke O'Nien (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Corey Taylor (Walsall).

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Sunderland. Lynden Gooch replaces Lee Cattermole.

Posted at 60'

Lewis Morgan (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Joe Edwards (Walsall).

Posted at 60'

Foul by Luke O'Nien (Sunderland).

Posted at 60'

Corey Taylor (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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