Premier League: Wolves 2 Sunderland 1

Wolves won their second home game in a row with a 2-1 win over Martin O’Neill’s inherited Sunderland on Sunday.

Sebastian Larsson missed a penalty for the visitors while Stephen Fletcher netted twice for the home side.

The first half was a messy affair with both sides failing to add any conviction to any attack, leaving both sets of fans with little to cheer.

However, in an eventful second period, three goals added to an exciting 45 minutes.

A great strike from Kieran Richardson opened the scoring, while Larsson failed to convert an undeserved spot-kick before Wolves struck on the counter, allowing Fletcher to get the first of his brace.

The result allowed Wolves to move ahead of Sunderland by three points, leaving the Black Cats to teeter on the edge of the bottom three.

Stephane Sessegnon tested keeper Wayne Hennessey early with a well struck volley that was lacking power and was easily dealt with.

A case of end-to-end football ensued for much of the first half, with both teams attempting to break the other’s defence, but to no affect as each backline remained strong and sturdy to deny the attackers.

Wolves were the most likely to make something with their consistent attacking, as Jamie O’Hara was given a clear sight of goal, but a lack of conviction gave his effort little chance of passing Keiren Westwood.

Just before half-time, Westwood was called into action again, this time having to make a fine save from a well struck Stephen Hunt effort from inside the six-yard box.

Sunderland were handed their own glorious chance after great interplay between Dong and Sessegnon, with the latter denied by a fantastic sliding block off the line by Stephen Ward.

A full-action second-half began with Sunderland going against the grain to get the game’s opener through a well taken effort from Richardson on a difficult angle.

Sessegnon had played the full-back down the left flank perfectly, with the latter striking to get his second of the season.

It really should have been two to the good for the visitors after Sunderland were awarded an undeserved penalty after Larsson won a spot from a rather obvious dive that Phil Dowd somehow mistranslated as a foul.

The midfielder took the kick, but his poor effort was easily dealt with by Westwood, with disastrous consequences for the away side.

On the counter, Wolves raced up the field and worked the ball into the Sunderland area to Fletcher who belted it in from close range.

Wolves immediately pushed for another. The ball was delivered towards O’Hara and the midfielder seemed to control the pass with his arm, but there was no whistle and the ball dropped to Fletcher’s feet to smash home on the volley.