Sunderland 2-1 Rotherham United: Jobe Bellingham double sinks Millers
- Published
- comments
Jobe Bellingham (left) moved to Sunderland from Birmingham for a reported £1.5m this summer
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray said 17-year-old Jobe Bellingham is "a joy to work with" after the midfielder scored his first senior goals in their comeback Championship win over Rotherham.
The summer arrival from Birmingham, younger brother of Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude, scored either side of half-time in front of more than 40,000 fans at the Stadium of Light.
Hakeem Odoffin had driven Rotherham ahead with their first attempt after 20 minutes.
Bellingham headed an almost instant equaliser and then stroked home the winner early in the second half before spurning a couple of chances at completing a hat-trick.
It gave the Black Cats their first win of the season and leaves Rotherham with just one point from their opening three games.
"Talking to Jobe he is disappointed he didn't get more goals - but he's in the six-yard box, he's there, he's playing the role we've asked him to play. He showed good flexibility. He scored his goals and helped the team win," Sunderland manager Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle.
Mowbray rejected talk he might use Belllingham as a striker, saying: "It isn't a possibility and we wouldn't expect that. He's not a number nine. I think he can play wide, he can play like a number six and be one of two holding midfield players, he can obviously run and be a running [number] eight - I've played him as a number 10.
"I think his greatest asset is he wants to learn football. He's 17 but he asks questions every day of the coaches - why am I doing this? Where do I go? What do you want me to do?
"He's a joy to work with really and I'm just so pleased he's scored some goals and helped the team win."
Sunderland began the brighter but Rotherham grew into the game and some intricate passing down the right led to Oli Rathbone finding Odoffin in the box, and he drove an angled shot under Anthony Patterson for his second goal in as many games.
It proved a wake-up call for the hosts, and within two minutes Jack Clarke whipped in a deep cross from the left, which Dan Neil headed back across goal for Bellingham to nod past Viktor Johansson, who couldn't claw it out.
Rotherham lost Odoffin to injury inside half an hour, but Cafu tested Patterson from an angle and Jordan Hugill looped a header wide after good work from Andre Green after the break.
For Sunderland, a slip from Bradley Dack prevented him converting at the far post, Clarke fired over the bar, and Pierre Ekwah's low drive from distance was well held by Johansson.
But after 52 minutes Sunderland made the Millers pay as Bellingham calmly stroked home after being teed up by Dack to put the hosts ahead for the first time this season.
Defender Cameron Humphreys denied Bellingham his hat-trick with a brave block soon afterwards and Tyler Blackett thwarted Patrick Roberts.
Bellingham scuffed a near-post volley off target before being substituted to a huge ovation, while Clarke fired straight at Johansson and substitute Luis Hemir fizzed past the post late on as Sunderland sought to seal it.
Rotherham boss Matt Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"Immediately after the game I was frustrated because I thought defensively we did enough to get something out of the game.
"Our use of the ball let us down too often - when it didn't we scored an outstanding goal and created some good moments. I think in the end fatigue played a part. We gave the ball away too easily. Their goal is a good example of that.
"Some are playing on empty and others aren't quite where we need to be in terms of level. We need some bodies back and obviously need some help. There's only so much we can do."
What's the cost of our obsession with houseplants? Charlotte and Amit explore the recent craze...
'It's very easy to plummet to your death': Will Jon Ronson convince Shaun to visit the Pacific Coast Highway?
