[monks data]

Attendance: 27,117

Premier League

Apr 16, 2016 at 12.45pm UK

Norwich Norwich City
0-3
Sunderland

FT(HT: 0-1)

Borini (41' pen.), Defoe (53'), Watmore (91')

Sunderland win at Norwich City to throw relegation scrap wide open

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 16 April 2016

Sunderland end their six-game winless streak and earn a massive three points at relegation rivals Norwich City to close within a point of the Canaries.

Sunderland emphatically came out on top in this afternoon's Premier League basement battle against Norwich City to throw the race to beat the drop wide open.

The Black Cats started the match four points behind the Canaries but have closed the gap to one – and still with a game in hand – thanks to goals from Fabio Borini, Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore.

Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini celebrate their second during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Sunderland on April 16, 2016 © AFP

Both sides were really up for the challenge from the off and even Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce had his feathers ruffled in the early stages when he got involved in a touchline confrontation with the Norwich bench.

It was the home side doing most of the early pressing, but Vito Mannone was not caused any real problems and Sunderland themselves then went close as Fabio Borini fired across the face of goal.

Fabio Borini and Martin Olsson in action during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Sunderland on April 16, 2016 © Getty Images

Norwich soon resumed their dominance and this time Mannone was really tested on a couple of occasions. First he reacted well to ensure that Younes Kaboul's sliced clearance did not turn into an own goal before tipping Martin Olsson's fierce volley over.

Five minutes before the break Sunderland went in front from the penalty spot as Borini tucked home after Andre Wisdom planted his studs into the Italian's ankle. There was slight contact with the ball, but the right-back went over the ball and Andre Marriner pointed to the spot.

Fabio Borini scores from the penalty spot during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Sunderland on April 16, 2016 © Getty Images

Norwich boss Alex Neil decided to make a change at half time and it almost paid off as Nathan Redmond drilled a low effort against the post shortly after the resumption.

However, it was Sunderland celebrating minutes later. Jan Kirchhoff stole the ball from Sebastien Bassong and then fed Borini down the right. He looked up and picked out Defoe in the middle to stab home from close range for his 10th goal in 14 away league appearances this season.

Falling two behind meant that Norwich had to push forward and Sunderland looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but Duncan Watmore failed to make one particularly good chance on the break count.

Big Sam Allardyce is taking no shit during the Premier League game between Norwich City and Sunderland on April 16, 2016 © Getty Images

Shortly after the hour mark Norwich had the ball cleared off the line three times in the space of two minutes, with Dieumerci Mbokani denied twice and Wes Hoolahan also kept out.

That was as good as it got for the Canaries and it turned into a six-goal swing between the two sides late on as Watmore squeezed a shot under Ruddy to put the icing on the cake for Sunderland.