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Top 5: Goals from Sunderland's ten years in the Premier League - vote for your favourite!

Whilst we're now looking ahead to a season in the second-tier after a decade in the Premier League, it's nice to look back at some of the more enjoyable moments from our last ten years in the top-flight of English football. Here's our top 5 of Sunderland goals from that period - vote for your favourite at the bottom!

Sunderland v Newcastle United - Premier League Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

Richardson’s rocket!

Sunderland hadn’t beaten Newcastle at home for approaching three decades but an absolute rocket from Kieran Richardson in the 2008 Wear-Tyne derby ended that run in blazing style and lifted what had became an increasingly dark cloud lingering over Wearside.

With the Lads comfortably dominating proceedings in front of an electric crowd at Stadium of Light, Sunderland's El-Hadji Diouf won a free on the edge of Newcastle's box and what came next meant Kieran Richardson will be forever remembered on Wearside, and quite rightly so.

Shay Given didn’t stand a chance as the former Manchester United man smashed the ball towards goal - it broke the hoodoo, as well as the net. The atmosphere was already bouncing that day, but that goal took the roof off the stadium. A memorable day, with a moment forever remembered fondly by the locals.


Bolo’s volley!

Very rarely have we seen this level of genuine, unadulterated quality at the Stadium of Light, but my word... this was special.

The game itself was one of the best the Wearside crowd had seen in many years - it had a goal in the opening minute, Darren Bent scoring against his former employers, three penalties and a disallowed goal, but it says everything that the quality of Zenden’s strike overshadowed the lot of them. Sublime.


Nedum Onohua channels his inner Messi

Sunderland showed ambition, aggression and skill, scoring two high-class goals, the first from Nedum Onuoha which was, simply, outrageous.

- Jason Burt, The Telegraph

One of the most surreal moments ever as a Sunderland fan.

A daunting trip to face the champions of England was seen as a dead rubber by most of the media - fortunately for Sunderland, on-loan right back Nedum Onuoha had different ideas.

Picking up the ball thirty yards out, Onuoha danced around Chelsea's back-line before placing a shot in the bottom corner of Petr Cech’s net. It was the kind of goal that took a second to register before we were able to fully appreciate it - a truly mental goal.

Better was still to come though as we scored a further two goals, demolishing Chelsea 3-0 - all with a centre half pairing of Titus Bramble and Michael Turner.

Let’s not forget about Bolo Zenden’s safety dance, either.


Defoe's Volley v Newcastle

A relegation six pointer on a beautiful sunny day - and the chance to beat the scum for the fifth time in succession.

What a day it was, and what a goal.

"Whatever else happens in your Sunderland career Jermain Defoe, that’s one they’ll never forget!" said Niall Quinn, as the diminutive forward smashed in arguably the greatest and most important goal that the Stadium of Light has ever seen.

There’s not a great deal I can add to how good this goal and, in general, the moment was - let’s just watch it over and over and remember how fantastic it felt to witness it.


Jermain Defoe’s clincher vs Chelsea

With "by far the greatest team" booming from every section of the Stadium of Light, a loose ball was picked up by DeAndre Yedlin, and a clever dummy took him past the Chelsea full back.

His low cross fell delightfully for one of the greatest marksmen to pull on the Sunderland jersey, and with one touch he controlled it, smashed it towards Thibaut Courtois and directed it into the net.

Poll

Which of the five goals was the best?

This poll is closed

  • 6%
    Defoe v Chelsea
    (31 votes)
  • 57%
    Defoe v Newcastle
    (273 votes)
  • 13%
    Richardson v Newcastle
    (65 votes)
  • 9%
    Zenden v Spurs
    (46 votes)
  • 12%
    Onuoha v Chelsea
    (59 votes)
474 votes total Vote Now

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