Mayenda double gives Sunderland win at Sheffield Wednesday
Black Cats went in front controversially after ball hit Mayenda's arm in build-up
Mayenda headed in excellent winner after break
Paterson had levelled for Sheff Wed just after half-time
Owls remain six points off play-offs
Sunderland close gap to second-placed Sheff Utd to five points
Sheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Wednesday's Shea Charles spots Liam Palmer on a forward run and sends across a long diagonal ball.
The idea is a good one but the pass has too much pace and goes past Palmer for a Sunderland throw-in.
Sheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Jobe Bellingham is given the opportunity to restore Sunderland's lead when Patrick Roberts finds him in the box but the midfielder can't put his shot on target.
Sheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Wednesday's Callum Patterson may have got the crowd going but his goal is a departing gift.
He's hurt and needs to be replaced with Ike Ugbo.
Disappointing for Patterson, who has struggled for game time as of late but has been magnetic tonight.
Sheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Ross Wallace
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday winger on BBC Radio Sheffield
Sheffield Wednesday can be really aggressive in this back five formation and can really get the crowd going.
Callum Paterson has got Wednesday back into this game by being aggressive and pressing.
It is games like this players like Paterson love, where they can go and get the crowd involved.
Image source, Getty ImagesSheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
From attack to defence, Owls skipper Barry Bannan is beaten by his Sunderland man and team-mate Ryo Hatsuse commits a foul while covering.
Out comes the yellow card.
Sheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Sheffield Wednesday have come out with energy and Sunderland are struggling to get up to speed.
Svante Ingelsson smashes an effort from the edge of the box but Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson tips wide.
Fine save.
Image source, Rex FeaturesSheff Wed 1-1 Sunderland
Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle
There were two passes and the one we failed to cut out has gone on to punish us.
That goal has changed the atmosphere of the stadium, it has given the home fans something to get behind.
Callum Paterson (48 mins)
Image source, Rex FeaturesThis has got Hillsborough roaring.
Svante Ingelsson dinks a pass high towards the centre of the box and Callum Paterson is there to nod it into the net while the Sunderland defence are sleeping.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
This game has already given fans much to talk about.
What will the second half have in store?
HT: Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Ross Wallace
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland winger on BBC Radio Sheffield
Image source, Rex FeaturesIt has been very similar to the 4-0 loss at Burnley last week. I don't think there has been great quality in the match from both sides, but you can argue Sheffield Wednesday have had the better goal-scoring opportunities.
The chances have been few and far between. I think Wednesday can still be positive, they have created two or three chances. I think they have created slightly more than Sunderland, but it has not been great quality from either side.
They are definitely still in this game.
#bbcefl
Talk Sense Man!: Don't see anything wrong with Mayenda's goal. He didn't intentionally handle the ball, and his arm was in a perfectly natural position. I still think the handball rule needs some re-thinking though.
Do you agree? Get in touch using #bbcefl on X.
HT: Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Image source, Rex FeaturesI asked you a bit earlier if you thought it was handball before Eliezer Mayenda scored for Sunderland.
Around two-thirds of you thought it was and gave it the thumbs up.
I've definitely seen them given.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Image source, Rex FeaturesSunderland have the lead at the break after a defensive mistake gives Eliezer Mayenda his third goal against the Owls this season.
But should it have stood?
The ball hit Mayenda's arm prior to scoring, while earlier in the match his team-mate Leo Hjelde avoided giving away a penalty after he appeared to handle in his own box.
Luck seems to be with the Black Cats this evening - but will it extend into the second half or is it Sheffield Wednesday's turn for some good fortune?
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
The minutes are beginning to pass by for Sheffield Wednesday but they have the ball in their final third.
The Owls work the ball around the Sunderland players and it gets cut to Callum Paterson.
The crowd shout for him to shoot but he has his head down and focused on passing forward.
His pass meets no one though and the good chance goes begging.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Ross Wallace
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland winger on BBC Radio Sheffield
Sunderland have been a bit comfortable playing out from the back.
Sheffield Wednesday haven't quite got their press right up the pitch.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Plenty of time still left to play in this half as an additional six minutes is announced.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Image source, Rex FeaturesWednesday defender Max Lowe's night has got even worse.
After his defensive error saw his side go a goal down, as he desperately tried to make amends for his mistake, he caused himself some damage.
It's bad news for the Owls, who are already playing Lowe out of position with injuries plaguing their defensive line.
Though they do have the experienced Liam Palmer to bring onto the field to cover.
Get involved #bbcefl
Do you think it was handball for Eliezer Mayenda's opener?
Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.
Sheff Wed 0-1 Sunderland
Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle
A little bit of a scrappy goal by Eliezer Mayenda and it took its time going in, I thought it was going to get cleared.
But well done Mayenda, that will do him the world of good.
They just need to manage the game now.
Eliezer Mayenda (34 mins)
Image source, Getty ImagesThat enough intensity for you, Gary?
Wednesday defender Max Lowe misjudges a long pass and allows it to fly past his head to Eliezer Mayenda.
It hits his arm as it comes down but the referee lets it go and the Sunderland man drives it forward for a one-v-one with Owls keeper James Beadle.
Beadle gets down to try to smother it but it goes bobbling above him and rolls into the net for Mayenda's third goal against Wednesday this season.
Sunderland have won all four games in which Eliezer Mayenda has scored this season
Sunderland revived their outside hopes of automatic promotion thanks to Eliezer Mayenda's double as they won at Sheffield Wednesday.
After successive defeats by Leeds United and Hull City, the Black Cats urgently needed three points and went ahead controversially in the first half as Mayenda appeared to use his arm to control the ball before scoring.
They were pegged back by Callum Paterson's headed equaliser just after the break before 19-year-old Spanish forward Mayenda, brought into the team for top scorer Wilson Isidor, nodded in the winner.
Sunderland stay fourth and are now five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, albeit having played a game more.
It was a third straight loss for Wednesday as they remain 13th, six points outside the play-offs, with their chances of making the top six beginning to fade.
The losses to Leeds and Hull had hit Sunderland hard and Regis Le Bris opted to make five changes to his side.
Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard were injured, while Isidor and teenage midfielder Chris Rigg started on the bench.
Three losses in four had also weakened Wednesday's chances of pushing for a play-off spot, but the Owls made the early running.
Sunderland defender Leo Hjelde was lucky as he looked to have used his hand in dealing with Svante Ingelsson's long throw as the visitors were penned back.
Josh Windass should have rounded off a flowing Wednesday move but fired over from eight yards. He has still yet to find the net since his blockbuster effort from inside his own half on New Year's Day.
Paterson was then unlucky to graze the crossbar with a neat flicked header as the hosts again threatened.
Having not capitalised on those moments, Wednesday were punished as they fell behind to Mayenda's hugely controversial first.
Max Lowe badly misjudged Hjelde's long ball but Mayenda controlled it with his forearm to get into position before he scuffed an effort beyond James Beadle.
To make matters worse, Lowe was injured trying to make a recovery tackle and had to be replaced.
The Black Cats have given up 18 points from winning positions this season and their lead was wiped out within three minutes of the restart.
Chris Mepham cheaply lost possession and Paterson headed home from Ingelsson's chipped cross for his 50th goal in English football, although he also had to go off injured soon after scoring.
The Owls would have completed a turnaround shortly after, but for a fine save from Anthony Patterson to deny Ingelsson.
Mayenda restored the visitors' lead when he powerfully headed home a beautiful ball over the top from Trai Hume to justify Le Bris' switch.
It was the teenager's sixth goal of the season, and a second double against Wednesday, having scored two in the 4-0 win at the Stadium of Light in August.
Sunderland saw this one out and will now hope for a favour before they host Cardiff City on Saturday, 8 March.
They still have that gap to make up on the Blades, with Burnley sandwiched between the two, three points ahead of the Black Cats. Both Sheffield United and Burnley are in action before Sunderland play again.
As for Wednesday, who have now lost all seven games against the Championship's top four this season, this was a fifth consecutive home game without a win which has stalled any momentum they may have wanted to build in search of a play-off spot.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"This game shows a bit of everything from the last few weeks, two big injuries in key moments, an easily conceded goal, a lot of missed opportunities and two moments where you do not get the right decision.
"At the moment it is really hard to take because I see how much my players invest.
"The first goal was bad, but the second goal was bad, bad, too easy. At the moment, we destroy our hard work with one single moment and this is hard for the team."
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"It was important to give energy to the team, even if it wasn't easy to play football because the pitch was difficult for both teams.
"It was more a question of energy, commitment, connection with the team and resilience. Even during the game we conceded the equaliser and it was important to stay connected and to find a solution to score, so it's good news for us.
"Wilson did really well this season and is one of the best strikers in the league, for sure.
"But we need two or three strikers to be competitive in this league so maybe it was the right time for Wilson to recover a little bit and Eliezer was ready."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 71 | 21 | 50 | 75 |
| |
| 2 | 34 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 48 | 26 | 22 | 70 |
| |
| 3 | 34 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 43 | 9 | 34 | 68 |
| |
| 4 | 35 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 52 | 32 | 20 | 65 |
| |
| 5 | 34 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 44 | 31 | 13 | 51 |
| |
| 6 | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 51 |
| |
| 7 | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 46 | 42 | 4 | 50 |
| |
| 8 | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 43 | 38 | 5 | 49 |
| |
| 9 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 48 |
| |
| 10 | 34 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 55 | 47 | 8 | 47 |
| |
| 11 | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 54 | 46 | 8 | 47 |
| |
| 12 | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 45 |
| |
| 13 | 35 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 47 | 56 | -9 | 45 |
| |
| 14 | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 40 | 43 | -3 | 44 |
| |
| 15 | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 36 | 41 | -5 | 42 |
| |
| 16 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 37 | 46 | -9 | 40 |
| |
| 17 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 43 | 56 | -13 | 39 |
| |
| 18 | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 34 | 49 | -15 | 38 |
| |
| 19 | 34 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 37 | 55 | -18 | 36 |
| |
| 20 | 34 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 34 | 47 | -13 | 35 |
| |
| 21 | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 33 | 44 | -11 | 33 |
| |
| 22 | 34 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 36 | 68 | -32 | 30 |
| |
| 23 | 34 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 33 | 47 | -14 | 29 |
| |
| 24 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 31 | 55 | -24 | 28 |
|
Manager: Danny Röhl
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Régis Le Bris
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Danny Röhl
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Régis Le Bris
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
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