Fletcher Rocks The Saints

Last updated : 09 May 2013 By Tott Dixon - Seaham

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BLACK CATS v SAINTS

2012/2013 Sat 22 Dec Southampton 0 - 1 Sunderland Premier League  
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 Sat 11 Nov Sunderland 1 - 1 Southampton Championship  
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1990/1991 Sat 13 Apr Southampton 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division  
 Tue 01 Jan Sunderland 1 - 0 Southampton First Division  
1984/1985 Tue 29 Jan Southampton 1 - 0 Sunderland First Division  
 Sat 25 Aug Sunderland 3 - 1 Southampton First Division  
1983/1984 Sat 11 Feb Southampton 1 - 1 Sunderland First Division  
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1982/1983 Sat 19 Feb Southampton 2 - 0 Sunderland First Division  
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 Wed 10 Mar Sunderland 2 - 0 Southampton First Division  
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1967/1968 Sat 02 Mar Sunderland 0 - 3 Southampton First Division  
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1966/1967 Wed 31 Aug Southampton 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division  
 Wed 24 Aug Sunderland 2 - 0 Southampton First Division  
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 Sat 22 Sep Southampton 2 - 4 Sunderland Second Division  
1961/1962 Sat 07 Apr Sunderland 3 - 0 Southampton Second Division  
 Sat 18 Nov Southampton 2 - 0 Sunderland Second Division  
1960/1961 Mon 17 Apr Sunderland 3 - 1 Southampton Second Division  
 Sat 15 Oct Southampton 3 - 2 Sunderland Second Division  

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2012 SOUTHAMPTON 0 SUNDERLAND 1

22. Simon Mignolet 8. Craig Gardner 24. Carlos Cuellar 16. John O'Shea 3. Danny Rose 21. Adam Johnson 74' 14. Jack Colback 7. Sebastian Larsson 70' 23. James McClean 28. Stephane Sessegnon 89' 26. Steven Fletcher
Subs: 20. Keiren Westwood 2. Phil Bardsley 70' 9. Fraizer Campbell 74' 10. Connor Wickham 11. James McFadden 15. David Vaughan 89' 19. Titus Bramble

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Steven Fletcher's strike proved the difference as Sunderland took all three points from their long trip to fellow strugglers Southampton.
 
The Scotland international's effort three minutes from the end of the first half was the only goal at St Mary's.

Only a point separated 16th-place Sunderland and the hosts coming into the match, with Southampton also a place worse off than the north-east side.

Martin O'Neill's side had lost three of four matches in December but looked dangerous from the outset, with Stephane Sessegnon forcing an exquisite save from former Black Cats goalkeeper Kelvin Davis in the opening minute.

A deflected Rickie Lambert free-kick was the closest Saints came in a first half in which Fletcher swept the opener home late on.

Saints pressed for a leveller throughout the second period but looked devoid of ideas and were unable to find a way past Sunderland, who held on for their second away win of the season.

Fletcher, Adam Johnson and Danny Rose all overcame knocks to start for the hosts, who came close in the opening seconds as Davis superbly denied Sessegnon from 25 yards.

John O'Shea nodded over from the resulting corner much to the relief of Southampton, who were jolted into action by the Black Cats' explosive start.

Jason Puncheon saw a threatening prod goalwards denied by Carlos Cuellar and, after a dangerous Morgan Schneiderlin free-kick was dealt with, Lambert was inches away from the opener.

After Craig Gardner brought down Emmanuel Mayuka, making his first Premier League start, on the edge of the box, the Saints striker's low driven free-kick was deflected just wide of the far post.

Sebastian Larsson was denied by Davis when Sunderland returned to the attack, before Fletcher directed a Gardner cross just wide and James McClean saw a tame effort from distance saved.

O'Neill's side were looking the bigger threat but record signing Gaston Ramirez was proving a thorn in their side.

Simon Mignolet did well to deal with an awkward dipping effort from 20 yards before the Uruguay international curled over from distance.

Both sides were playing cautiously in a bid to find the opener, with the defences dealing with any potential threats.

First Cuellar denied Lambert as he prepared to break through on goal and then Maya Yoshida did well to stop Fletcher meeting a driven Gardner cross from the right.

Puncheon saw a strike blocked by O'Shea as Saints looked to end the half on top, only for Fletcher to break the deadlock.

Johnson's low cross from the left was played on by Sessegnon for the Scotland international to sweep home a 42nd-minute opener.

Referee Howard Webb waved away Mayuka's penalty appeals as the first half came to a close, with Lambert firing just over 30 seconds after the restart.

Sunderland could have had a second had somebody connected with a drilled Gardner effort before Johnson fired over, leading Adkins to shuffle the pack.

Steve de Ridder, making his first Premier League appearance of the season, and Steven Davis came on for Mayuka and Schneiderlin.

De Ridder almost made an immediate impression as he found Jose Fonte with a corner, but the Portuguese defender could only nod wide.

Sunderland, though, were frustrating a Saints side lacking inspiration as the rain hammered down.

Puncheon was dispossessed as he ran through on goal and Steven Davis saw a shot blocked by Jack Colback as the hosts desperately sought a leveller.

Davis saved an audacious Gardner free-kick from range, before Guly do Prado came on for Puncheon in a final throw of the dice by the hosts.

However, Southampton had a late penalty appeal waved away and Do Prado saw a stoppage-time shot blocked, meaning the 1,814 travelling fans would leave happy.