Sunderland Emerge On Top In Vertu Motors Derby
For the second successive home game, Sunderland secured three points in the EFL Championship after battling to a fine win against fellow Vertu Motors-backed side Plymouth Argyle.
Sunderland went into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough the previous week, whilst Argyle made the long trip to the North East having slipped out of the FA Cup in extra time against Leeds.
Plymouth had the better chances early on as Ryan Hardie forced Anthony Patterson into a save before the same player was put through by Morgan Whittaker to round the ‘keeper and open the scoring for the away side.
Argyle led at the break but Sunderland roared back in the second half, drawing level when a low drive from Pierre Ekwah following a free-kick thundered into the corner.
Jack Clarke then fired in a stunning shot from the left-hand side of the box that beat Connor Hazard and crashed into the back of the net off the post to put Sunderland in front before substitute Jobe Bellingham produced a finish that his older brother would be proud of as he skipped through the defence to curl in the third.
The result sees Sunderland move back into the top six ahead of a trip to Huddersfield, with Plymouth remaining 15th as they prepare to welcome Coventry City to Home Park.