Amad's winning goal was labelled 'a touch of class' by defeated Birmingham City boss John Eustace. The on-loan Manchester United forward scored Sunderland's all-important second goal as the Black Cats kept their play-off hopes alive, coming from behind to win 2-1 against the Blues at the Stadium of Light.
George Hall had given the visitors the lead on the half-hour before defender Trai Hume scored his first goal for the club to equalise in first half injury time. But it was top scorer Amad who completed the turnaround 15 minutes from time, cutting into the box from the right flank before whipping a low left-footed shot beyond John Ruddy and into the bottom left-hand corner to notch his 12th goal of the season.
Sunderland ended the game with ten men after Dennis Cirkin was sent off for a second bookable offence, but they held on to complete a league double against the Midlanders. Eustace bemoaned his side's failure to make more of the chances they created, but praised Amad's finish - even though it ended the Blues' four-game unbeaten run.
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"We've been disappointed in the final third all season, really," said Eustace. "We've created a lot of chances, got into good areas and it's something we need to improve on in the final third.
"Their winning goal is a touch of class. I was very pleased with the performance.
"I thought we were excellent. First half we were very good, but I was very disappointed in the manner we conceded the [Hume] goal - that's not like us, really sloppy from the set-piece, we've been outstanding all season from that.
"To lose two or three headers in a row and give them a lifeline just before half-time was disappointing. The lads brushed themselves down, they were disappointed but the way we started the second half was really good.
"We had a good chance to take the lead again, but overall just really disappointed to lose, I didn't think we deserved to. We came here against a good team, we went toe to toe.
"Overall it was a good performance."
The win was Sunderland's first at home since mid-February and, coming hard on the heels of their Easter Monday victory at Cardiff City, it lifted the Wearsiders to ninth place in the table. It briefly cut the gap between Sunderland and the play-off places to a single point, however that increased to two points following Blackburn Rovers' draw against Hull City in the evening kick-off - although the Black Cats are still two points closer to the top six than they were going into the weekend.
Sunderland continue their campaign on Tuesday night, when relegation strugglers Huddersfield Town visit the Stadium of Light.
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- Sunderland player ratings as Amad, Dan Neil, and Anthony Patterson impress in win against Birmingham
- Ten-man Sunderland close to within a point of play-offs after coming from behind against Birmingham
- Sunderland loanee Bailey Wright to play a part in Rotherham's relegation fight despite bad injury
- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray on the one major area that has hampered his side this season
