CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunderland suffer setback in fight for relegation

Sunderland suffered a setback in their fight against relegation with defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.

Wednesday took the lead after a first half of few chances, Lucas Joao firing in from Atdhe Nuhiu’s header.

But Sunderland responded immediately, George Honeyman heading Lynden Gooch’s cross in at the far post.

Tom Lees restored the Owls’ lead, firing in Joey Pelupessy’s free-kick delivery from close range, before Nuhiu headed in to secure the three points.

The Kosovo striker’s goal, his fifth in three games, ensured Sheffield Wednesday would move up to 16th in the table, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

Defeat for Sunderland kept them 23rd in the division, five points adrift of safety with only six games left this season.

The Black Cats were made to pay for not taking advantage of a strong first-half performance, Donald Love firing their best chance of the opening 45 minutes over from just outside the box.

Chris Coleman’s side, already without a number of players because of injuries and suspensions, suffered another blow in the second half when Bryan Oviedo was injured and taken off the pitch.

They are now level on points with bottom side Burton, facing an increasingly difficult task to avoid dropping to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1987.

BBC