Sunderland 5-0 Southampton: Black Cats thump in-form Saints for second win

Sunderland blew away in-form Southampton to kickstart their Championship season in emphatic fashion at a raucous Stadium of Light.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when Pierre Ekwah took a pass on the edge of the box, was not closed down, and drilled a low shot which was deflected beyond a sprawling Gavin Bazunu by Flynn Downes.

Ekwah hammered in the Black Cats’ third just before half-time, cutting out a Mason Holgate pass and curling a shot beyond Bazunu at his near post.

Bradley Dack put the game beyond any doubt when he tucked in Abdoullah Ba’s cross from close range just after the break.

Teenager Chris Rigg capped a dominant second league win of the season with a cool header in injury time, despatching a teasing Jewison Bennette cross with ease.

Southampton only managed to trouble goalkeeper Anthony Patterson on limited occasions, with Holgate and Sekou Mara heading wide with two of their best opportunities.

The Saints’ inability to break down the Wearsiders left boss Russell Martin frustrated, often with his head in his hands, as the hosts saw out a comfortable victory.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has spoken of his desire to sign a striker, with Ross Stewart coincidentally now a Southampton player, but his side showed they might just cope without the Scot after a clinical display.

Jack Clarke’s constant probing, Abdoullah Ba’s defence-stretching runs and the cuteness of Dack around the box gave Mowbray’s side a different dimension, while Ekwah’s eye for goal is a welcome addition to his ability to command the midfield.

Conversely, Southampton have a wealth of striking talent to add to Stewart’s arrival once fit, with multi-million pound signings Adam Armstrong and Che Adams around the squad.

However, they lacked the midfield control to utilise their attacking talent, and defensively looked shaky against a succession of clever crosses from the hosts.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray:

“The result is important for the team and the spirit.

“It’s been a tough week in the build-up to it in terms of speculation around a lot of our players. In training yesterday, there were rumours about certain clubs looking at certain players and it disrupts young footballers.

“I can see them talking to each other, and yet they showed great professionalism today. We all turned up and did what we hoped we could do.

“I’m happy with the day and happy for the fans. On paper this is a really difficult game. I looked at their squad on the back of the programme and just saw name after name after name of really experienced high quality footballer.”

Southampton head coach Russell Martin:

“I feel really sorry for the supporters that came, they were amazing right to the end and we have to make sure this is the toughest day we have and we have to learn from that.

“The one thing we spoke about is starting well. It’s a young team at Sunderland and when the wind is in their sails they’re very good but when they have a difficult start they can then find it tough to get the game back

“But the game just went for them. They had momentum after their start, brilliant momentum and we didn’t have enough of that.

“Everything they did well – they fought, they came out on top of duels, they worked so hard – we didn’t, we went in self-preservation mode, which I think is still a hangover from last season.

“It’s the first defeat but the manner of it really hurts.”