McClean sets Sunderland on way to crucial victory

Sunderland 3 Reading 0

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, McClean fired them into a third-minute lead which they were never in danger of relinquishing.

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, before Stephane Sessegnon 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.