Unlikely Hero Hails Sunderland Win

Man-of-the-match Danny Graham was in an ecstatic mood after the Black Cats secured a precious three points. The striker was an influential figure in the Sunderland side as they ran out 2-1 victors against Southampton, boosting their survival hopes.

The Black Cats are now just a point away from safety with four games remaining, one of which is a game in hand over their relegation rivals Leicester and Newcastle.

Speaking after the match, the five-million-pound Graham believes he and his team-mates must use this as a spring-board for Premier League survival.

"We got the result we were looking for", He said. "We got the penalties but Jordi Gomez had to put them away under massive pressure. Costel (Pantilimon) pulled us out at the end with a great reaction save. We deserved the points.

"We’re delighted but now we need to get back to training tomorrow and prepare for next weeks game."

Graham, who had a hand in winning both of the Black Cats’ penalties, was in no doubt that both were the correct decisions from referee Mike Jones.

"The first he kicked me in the mouth and the second JD (Jermain Defoe) has took his touch across him and was clear of him, so we got the penalties.

"Jordi still had to put them away under immense pressure, but we can take a lot of positives from this performance and move on."

In light of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon’s match-winning save right at the depth, the striker was full of praise for the Romanian and his fellow teammates:

"Big Panty pulled us out there at the end with a great reaction save, which we’ll expect from him. I think throughout the squad, the subs that came on, everyone put in a massive in today."