Sunderland 3 - 0 Reading: Steven Fletcher on target to ease pressure on O’Neill

SCORERS:

Sunderland - McClean (3), Fletcher (28), Sessegnon (90)

Twelve months to the day since making his senior debut for the Black Cats as a substitute in O’Neill’s first game in charge – a 2-1 win over Blackburn – the Republic of Ireland international fired them into a third-minute lead which they were never in danger of relinquishing.

Scotland striker Steven Fletcher, whose return from an ankle injury gave his team an altogether more threatening appearance, increased the advantage with an audacious 28th minute backheel.

Stephane Sessegnon then rounded keeper Adam Federici at the death to secure just a third league win in 24 attempts and the first against 11 men since March.

O’Neill was adamant in the run up to the rearranged fixture that it was not a must-win affair, and with owner and chairman Ellis Short a supportive presence at the stadium before kick-off, the club was presenting a united front.

However, a comfortable victory which lifted Sunderland out of the relegation zone was welcome, nonetheless, as some of the darker clouds hanging over the Stadium of Light dispersed.

The same cannot be said of promoted Reading, who remain locked in a battle for survival having won only one top-flight game to date, and who showed few signs of improving upon that record on Wearside in front of a crowd of 37,723.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, O’Shea, Cuellar, Colback, Johnson (Bardsley 46), Rose (Vaughan 69), Larsson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher, Bardsley (Bramble 75). Subs Not Used: Westwood, Campbell, Wickham, Kilgallon.

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Mariappa, Shorey, McCleary (Samuel 72), Tabb, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Hunt, Le Fondre. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Gunter, Gorkss, Harte, Gunnarsson, Obita.

Referee: N Swarbrick. Attendance: 37,723.