Sunderland 2-1 Southampton

Graziano Pelle tussles with Sunderland's Lee Cattermole and John O'Shea

Sunderland remain a point adrift of safety after beating 10-man Southampton thanks to two Jordi Gomez penalties.

Gomez put the Black Cats ahead with his first spot-kick after Jose Fonte caught Billy Jones with a high boot.

Sadio Mane levelled just 73 seconds later, slotting home when Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon collided with two defenders and dropped a cross.

But Gomez secured a vital victory, firing home after James Ward-Prowse was sent off for fouling Jermain Defoe.

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Southampton's 10 men continued to press, but Pantilimon made amends for his earlier error with a brilliant injury-time stop from Graziano Pelle.

The final whistle brought visible relief for the home fans, and keeps Dick Advocaat's team in touch with the teams immediately above them.

Sunderland stay in the relegation zone because Leicester and Aston Villa also won on Saturday, but they have closed the gap on Hull and Newcastle and only two points now separate all five teams.

What may prove to be a decisive win in the Black Cats' battle against the drop was earned the hard way against a Saints team who came to life only when Ward-Prowse was dismissed.

Both sides struggled to find any fluency in the first half, with the tension in the stands meaning mistakes were rife on the pitch.

Urged on by their supporters, the Black Cats had done a lot of running but created little until Gomez's first penalty after 21 minutes.

That was awarded when Fonte kicked Jones in the head as he attempted to clear a dropping ball in the visitors' box.

But Sunderland's celebrations lasted only as long as it took Southampton to kick off and send a hopeful high ball forward.

Pantilimon came to get it but seemingly did not tell John O'Shea or Seb Coates and presented the ball to Mane after tripping over them.

Southampton had done little to merit their equaliser but will feel they were unlucky to concede a second penalty, 10 minutes after the break.

Lee Cattermole started the move with a superb tackle, and it finished with Defoe going to ground after charging into the box to collect Danny Graham's lay-off.

Replays showed Ward-Prowse and Defoe had collided, but a foul was far less evident. Referee Mike Jones was convinced, however, and also showed Ward-Prowse a straight red.

If having a man-advantage made things easier for Sunderland, they did not show it. Further chances did not materialise for the home side and they were pegged back in their own half in injury time.

Pelle's last-gasp strike almost brought Saints a point but their defeat means they stay seventh, and are now four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth.

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat, speaking to Sky Sports:

"It was a very important win. Everything is still in our own hands with four games to go.

"Today we have seen what can be achieved if everyone works their socks off. It was great team performance and I am really proud of the way we got the three points."

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman:

"The thing that has frustrated me the most is the performance of my own team because we did not play at our level.

"The 10 minutes after half-time were our worst of the season so far.

"We only showed our level with one less player on the pitch. We played much better football and were the better team when it was 10 men against 11. That is so strange it is unbelievable."