Sunderland 0-1 Cardiff City: Bluebirds grab late winner at Stadium of Light
- Published
Cardiff clinched a third successive win as they took the spoils at the Stadium of Light
Mark McGuinness scored a late winner as Cardiff City withstood a dominant Sunderland to secure their first away victory of the season in the Championship.
McGuinness headed home Ryan Wintle's corner with four minutes remaining to give Erol Bulut's side an unlikely three points.
Sunderland endured a frustrating afternoon with Cardiff keeper Jak Alnwick denying Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke.
But Cardiff grabbed a third successive league win, which sees them move up to seventh in the table.
Defeat ended Sunderland's five-match unbeaten run, although they remain fifth.
The sides were evenly matched during the opening 15 minutes before the hosts began to take control.
Sunderland were looking more potent with Jobe Bellingham making a strong run into the area but his header failed to trouble Alnwick.
Abdoullah Ba pulled the ball back for Pritchard, whose effort was blocked by Bluebirds defender Dimitrios Goutas and went inches wide.
The visitors had very few opportunities during the opening 45 minutes and Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson was largely untested.
In contrast, opposite number Alnwick, who signed a new deal during the week, made a smart save to tip away Clarke's effort in the closing minutes of the first half.
Sunderland began the second half on the front foot with Alnwick denying Pritchard before Clarke's follow-up was blocked by Goutas.
Cardiff had barely ventured into Sunderland's half until Ike Ugbo fired wide following a cross from substitute Ollie Tanner.
Tony Mowbray's side continued to press as Alnwick once again made a crucial save, this time thwarting substitute Patrick Roberts.
Goutas, not for the first time, made a crucial block to deny the follow-up from Trai Hume.
The visitors' first effort on target finally came with three minutes remaining and it produced a goal, McGuinness on the near post to meet Wintle's set-piece.
Wintle could have added to Cardiff's tally late on before Tanner blasted over the bar when he was found one on one with the goalkeeper, but the Bluebirds still secured a fourth win in five games.
Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut said:
"It was a great win. Sunderland are a really, really good team and maybe one of the best teams with the ball in the league.
"It was not easy to have this victory today. Sometimes you have to fight to win and less chances to score and today was a game like that.
"I'm glad we got three points at a difficult stadium."