Bristol City took a huge step towards booking a place in the Championship play-off places with a win over 10-man Sunderland at Ashton Gate.
Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie turned the game around after Eliezer Mayenda put the Black Cats in front.
Trai Hume was sent off after seven minutes, giving his side a mountain to climb.
City remain fifth in the Championship table, four points clear of Middlesbrough in seventh. Sunderland sit fourth having already secured their spot in the play-offs.
The visitors lost Hume when he tangled with Nahki Wells as he ran through on goal. He was the last man, and the referee didn’t hesitate to reach for a red card.
Joe Williams fired just wide from distance after the resulting free-kick fell into his path after hitting the wall.
City piled on the pressure but just past the half hour mark, Mayenda put Sunderland ahead with a stunning solo strike. He drove from inside his own half before firing home with a left-foot shot for his first goal in seven games.
George Earthy thought he had levelled for the Robins soon after, but he was adjudged offside when he tapped home the rebound after Anthony Patterson parried a shot from inside of the area.
Dickie did finally get the home side on terms 10 minutes after the break with a wonderful curling effort from distance.
Sunderland’s heroic defending was a feature of the game, and it kept the scores level when Leo Hjelde cleared McCrorie’s goal-bound volley off the line.
But their resistance was broken when McCrorie lashed the ball past Patterson on 76 minutes and it was beyond the keeper and into the net before he had a chance to react.
‘A massive win’ – post-match reaction
Bristol City manager Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
“[It’s a] massive win. I’m lost for words. We played Hull here not so long ago, they went down to 10-men and it was a disappointing one [to not win].
“We stuck at it. The message at half-time was to stay calm and patient and to create a bit of chaos. The lads stuck at it and kept going.
“When they go into that deep block, there is a tendency for everyone to get on the ball. You end up with players outside of the play, rather than putting the ball into the box. We did that better second-half.
“If it wasn’t for some top defending, [the goals] could have been more.”
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle:
“[Trai Hume’s red card] was a harsh decision from the referee. We have to accept it.
“It changed the dynamics of the game. We started well with confidence. After the red card, we managed the situation properly and defended well. It was tough to maintain the level. We know you can score from long shots and mistakes in the box. That was the case twice.
“We tried to win the game but we want the players in the best shape. We are building the squad and team with this opportunity because we have secured the play-offs and that was the main objectives.
“In the last few weeks, Eliezer [Mayenda] has shown he is really connected to the game and his good qualities. We can’t forget this; the outcome of the game is disappointing but at the same time we can be confident.”
[BBC]