Bardsley’s strike sees Sunderland home

Sunderland 2 Southampton 1

The 28-year-old set the Black Cats on the road to a 2-1 victory, just their fourth of the season, after finding the net for the first time since a 1-1 draw with the Saints in May.

He struck from close range 14 minutes into the second-half after former Sunderland goalkeeper Kelvin Davis had parried Jozy Altidore’s header.

Substitute Sebastian Larsson looked to have wrapped up the win with a second four minutes from time, but defender Maya Yoshida’s late header set up a tense conclusion.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Celustka (Larsson 70), Brown, O’Shea, Bardsley, Johnson, Gardner, Ki, Colback, Giaccherini (Fletcher 90), Altidore.

SOUTHAMPTON: Kelvin Davis, Chambers, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox, Cork, Reed, Rodriguez, Ramirez (Gallagher 79), Steven Davis (Lallana 70), Lee (Ward-Prowse 57).

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).