Top Ten Goals Of The 2015/2016 Season - Vote!

Jermain Defoe v Everton (A)

Jermain Defoe has scored some outstanding goals this season, but one that has been perhaps forgotten about is his strike away at Everton in a game we were destroyed 6-2 by Roberto Martinez's side.

It often happens when Sunderland score goals in matches that we'd rather forget about - I mean, how many people remember Darren Bent's goal at St James Park in the 5-1?

Regardless, this was a lovely finish from Sunderland's top scorer and perhaps his finest goal of the season.

With Ramiro Funes Mori sliding across him, Defoe touched the ball deftly with his right foot before waiting for it to drop, where he smashed the ball well out of Tim Howard's reach and into the far side of the goal. Very classy.

Fabio Borini v Crystal Palace (H)

Fabio Borini hasn't scored a great deal of goals this season, but what he has got in his locker is a wicked strike from distance - just ask Tim Krul.

His on-off relationship with Sam Allardyce seemed to reach a turning point after the Crystal Palace draw at the beginning of March, when Borini scored an absolute screamer to level the game right at the death, a goal which was pretty indicative of Fabio's frustrations of not being included in the starting eleven for a number of weeks by his manager.

With the ball running in front of him, the Italian simply twatted the ball from an outrageous angle, an unstoppable strike which Wayne Hennessey had absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near. Borini let all his anger out with that goal and as it nestled into the back of the net he made sure his manager knew how he felt, celebrating right in front of the home dugout.

Did he mean it?

Absolutely.

Jermain Defoe v Liverpool (A)

This wasn't a particularly spectacular strike, but I love it all the same.This goal was a perfect example of just how clinical Jermain Defoe is.

When a player the quality of Jermain Defoe receives the ball inside the box with his back to goal, you can bet he's going to find a way to turn and shoot, and he did just that.

Having received a simple little pass into feet from Wahbi Khazri, Defoe managed to wrestle away from Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho before getting on the half-turn to finish with perfection past Simon Mignolet. For me, this was the goal that set Sunderland on the path to survival - it gave us hope that these players have the quality to get themselves out of difficult situations, particularly after such a bad December and January.

Two touches, turn, bang - a typical Jermain Defoe goal.

Wahbi Khazri v Chelsea (H)

I have a feeling this one might be fairly popular with voters, and I can't blame anyone that opts to vote for it. It was an absolutely brilliant strike, and one which helped us to believe and claw back from almost certain defeat to win a game that ultimately secured our survival.

After a Patrick Van Aanholt free kick was poorly cleared by Jon Obi Mikel, the ball was nodded back into play by Lamine Kone, and after another poor clearance from Gary Cahill out of nowhere came Wahbi Khazri, who volleyed the ball from a ridiculous angle to sent his shot way into the left hand side of Thibaut Courtois' goal.

In terms of pure technique, it was probably one of the finest goals from any player this season in the Premier League.

Jermain Defoe v Chelsea (H)

The goal that basically saved us from relegation - the goal that cemented Jermain Defoe into Sunderland folklore.

It was, as I've said before, a 'typical Jermain Defoe goal', and though it was unspectacular, it was still absolutely brilliant and a finish that not many forwards at this level could do with ease.

With the ball deflecting into his path at pace following from a DeAndre Yedlin corner, Defoe settles the ball with an absolutely sublime touch and then turns slightly before battering the ball out of Thibaut Courtois' reach and into the net.

Bedlam ensued, and Sunderland were just about safe.

Steven Fletcher v Newcastle United (H)

'The icing on the cake' is a phrase you could probably best use to describe this one.

With the game already well out of Newcastle's reach, Steven Fletcher scored a wonderfully-worked goal which capped off a 3-0 victory over our nearest rivals in Sam Allardyce's second game in charge.

With Newcastle attacking at the other end and offering up pretty much every resource in order to try and grab a goal back, Sunderland won back possession and broke forward through Yann M'Vila, who strode into the Newcastle half of the pitch under zero pressure. Looking left, M'Vila laid the ball to the advancing Younes Kaboul, who with his first touch crossed the ball inch perfect onto the boot of Steven Fletcher, and the Scotsman dispatched a beautiful left footed volley past Rob Elliot to send the Stadium of Light mental.

Yann M'Vila v Aston Villa (A)

He might have only scored once this season, but at least it was an absolute screamer.

Yann M'Vila isn't a player you'd associate with scoring from free kicks, so it came as a bit of a shock when he stood over the ball down at Villa Park in August and tucked away a strike that Villa keeper Brad Guzan had absolutely no chance of saving.

It's a shame that we played Aston Villa so early in the season, because not long after their draw with us things started to unravel for Tim Sherwood.

Jeremain Lens v West Ham (H)

There is no doubting the quality that Jeremain Lens possesses - it's his application and effort that often lets him down. His goal against West Ham United in Dick Advocaat's last game in charge was the type of finish that looks very good on a Youtube highlight package that makes a player look much better than he actually is - and we know all about those.

Still, it was a goal of absolutely sublime quality, and it's just a shame we've seen very little else from Lens this season. With Adrian off his line, the Dutchman punted the ball over the goalkeeper's head and in off the underside of the bar. Beautiful. It's a goal I could watch over and over again.

Jermain Defoe's Second v Exeter City (H)

Three of Jermain Defoe's eighteen goals this season came in this game against League Two side Exeter City - his second perhaps the best of the lot.

Latching onto a delightful lofted through ball from Lee Cattermole, Defoe's first touch was superb, settling the ball before taking another and then finishing with ease. Regardless of the standard of opposition, that is an absolutely top class goal.

Patrick Van Aanholt v Swansea City (A)

One player that has vastly improved this season is Patrick Van Aanholt, and adding goals to his game has made him a valuable asset to Sam Allardyce's side.

Though Patrick has a very good and capable left foot, he can also use his right, as shown in this goal - cutting inside from the left, he lashed an unstoppable right footed drive past Łukasz Fabiański in off the post. Fantastic.

Which goal is your favourite? Vote in the poll below.