Byfield makes Black Cats purr with game-winning goal over Gillingham

DARREN BYFIELD further endeared himself to the Sunderland fans with the goal which earned his side a 2-1 win over Gillingham last night.

Sunderland 2 Gillingham 1

The striker took his tally to three in as many games as Mick McCarthy's side climbed to fourth place in the Nationwide Division One table.

Byfield has now scored four times in eight matches since arriving from Rotherham.

His well-taken goal, after a penetrating run at the Gillingham defence, settled an encounter which the hosts dominated without ever truly taking charge.

Sean Thornton, with a superb 11th-minute free kick, laid the platform for a comfortable evening for Sunderland, only for Patrick Agyemang to grab an equaliser just before the half-hour.

Sunderland's pressure eventually told, though, with Byfield scoring eight minutes after the interval to extend the Black Cats' unbeaten run at home to 17 league games and ensure Gillingham's first trip to the Stadium of Light ended fruitless.

Thornton's goal was the culmination of a sustained spell of Sunderland pressure, Paul Thirlwell firing over from distance and John Oster testing goalkeeper Steve Banks early on.

Though Kevin James tried his luck from 35 yards for Gillingham, it came as little surprise when Thornton found the top corner of Banks's goal after Leon Johnson's foul on Byfield.

Kevin Kyle and Oster failed to find the target as Sunderland sought to double their advantage, but Gillingham came into the game more as the half progressed.

Alan Pouton was similarly wayward at the opposite end of the pitch before the visitors equalised in the 28th minute through Agyemang, who diverted a cross past goalkeeper Mart Poom off his thigh.

Sunderland suffered a further setback just after the half-hour when Stephen Wright was forced off through injury he was replaced by Darren Williams although Jeff Whitley and Kyle stung Banks's palms and Byfield shot wide before the break.

The withdrawal of Kyle at the interval did not appear to have a significant effect on Sunderland, who regained the lead in the 53rd minute.

Collecting the ball 40 yards from goal, raced at Gillingham's retreating defenders before firing low to Banks's right.

SUNDERLAND: Poom, McCartney, Babb, Breen, Wright (Williams 34), Oster, Whitley, Thirlwell, Thornton (Cooper 90), Byfield, Kyle (Tommy Smith 45).

GILLINGHAM: Banks, Rose, Ashby, Leon Johnson, Southall, Pouton, Smith, James (Jarvis 83), Spiller (Hessenthaler 69), Sidibe, Agyemang.

Referee: M Cowburn (Lancashire).